Good News Gloucester

  Tuesday Morning! You are loved! Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. Galatians 6:7-10 It can be sobering to think about life as a field of our own planting, and what’s in our field is determined by the type of seed we have chosen to sow. What if we selected the wrong “seed” but don’t realize it until years later, when we’re standing in a field filled with mature “plants” that are causing us pain and difficulty? In this agricultural analogy of sowing and reaping, there are only two types of seeds—those that originate from our sinful desires and those that originate fr...

  Monday morning! You are loved! ...the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11 The Bible ascribes many different names to Jesus, all of which provide great insight into His character and person. Here are some from John’s gospel that I find particularly revealing: The Good Shepherd (10:11) protects his sheep at all cost from predators. They know His voice and follow Him. The Door (vv. 7-9) is the only way to enter heaven. Whoever enters through the “gate” of Christ will be saved. The Vine (15:1-10) is the source of our spiritual life. When we stay intimately connected to Jesus, we bear fruit. If we do not remain in Him, we wither. The Bread of Life (6:25-35) the only one who can truly satisfy our hearts. Jesus feeds our souls with sustenance that never leaves us wanting for more. The Light of t...

  Thursday morning! You are loved! But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), Ephesians 2:4-5 God’s Word is always true, but sometimes it comes across as confrontational when it exposes our erroneous thinking. One truth that’s often considered challenging is the way God describes the desperate state of those who are without Christ. They are ... Dead in their offenses and sins. Spiritual death came to all people as a result of Adam’s sin, leaving the human race under God’s condemnation (Eph. 2:1). Unable to grasp spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:14). Their minds are darkened, and they cannot understand the things of God. Outside of God’s family. Spiritually, there are only two families in the world: the family of God and the family of Satan (John 8:44). Under God’s wrath. Unbelievers, even the ones who are kind and loving, are under judgmen...

  Wednesday Morning! You are loved! Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. Ruth 1:14 Both Orpah and Ruth had an affection for Naomi and therefore set out with her upon her return to the land of Judah. But the test came: Naomi unselfishly set before both of them the trials that awaited them and encouraged them if they cared for ease and comfort to return to their friends in Moab. At first both of them declared that they would take their stand with the Lord’s people; but upon further consideration Orpah with much grief and a respectful kiss left her mother-in-law, and her people and her God, and went back to her idolatrous friends, while Ruth with all her heart gave herself up to the God of her mother-in-law. It is one thing to love the ways of the Lord when all is fair, and quite another to hold to them in the face of discouragements and difficulties. The kiss of outward profession is very cheap and easy, but the practical clinging to the Lord, which must show itself...

  Tuesday Morning! You are loved! When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5 At this time of year, many who do not spend time thinking about God much for the other eleven months find themselves reflecting on the reason for Jesus’ birth. Countless friends, colleagues, and relatives would likely say that Jesus is, at best, something of a mystery. These responses are a sobering reminder that Christianity’s message is not as obvious to our neighbors as we may think. Who Jesus is must first be clear in our own minds and dear to our own hearts if we are going to articulate that to others. Jesus stands out among other figures of religion, history, and humanity since He alone possesses the qualifications to be the Savior of our world. If God would save, then the Savior must be God. If man must bear the punishment because man sinned, then the...

  Monday Morning! You are loved! Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45 We are enslaved by sin and have offended God. Only Jesus's decisive intervention—this costly purchase of our life—can set us free and make us whole. By His death, Jesus settled the judgment against all who believe in Him. When He cried, “It is finished”. In His Son’s resurrection, the Father provided the receipt of the payment. The debt, which was justifiably leveled against us and too great for us to pay, is now stamped unmistakably: “PAID.” At times, the Evil One will antagonize us and our own hearts will accuse us. “Are you really forgiven? Surely this is one sin too many! Does God really love you? Do you really have a place in glory for all eternity?” When you hear these whispers, remind yourself that Christ strode up to the very bar of justice and settled the account that stood against you. The Father raised Him from the dead; therefore...

  Friday Morning! You are loved! For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 Knowing he’d one day give an account to the Lord for how he carried out his calling, the Apostle Paul was willing to suffer for Christ’s sake to accomplish the task. As believers, we also have an obligation to share the gospel with whomever God places in our life. And we would be wise to consider what our level of commitment is. Paul felt compelled to tell people about the Savior. In fact, he said, “Woe to me if I do not” (1 Cor. 9:16). No matter how anyone treated him, he wasn’t ashamed of the message of Christ. And he kept warning unbelievers about the eternal consequences of ignoring the Lord’s gracious offer of salvation. We may not want to warn people about God’s judgment, for fear of driving them away from Him. But in reality, people living in spiritual darkness are already far from the Lord and need to hear about His offer of forgivenes...

  Thursday Morning! You are loved! The Love of God We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19 When we pause to think about the history of our universe, something greater (Psalm 24:1) than man must be sustaining all this life beyond man’s ability (Jer.10:23). It is impossible not to know that God exists. God says we are without excuse! (Rom. 1:20). When we get our minds around that truth, think about what Jesus said when asked what law was the greatest. He said, love God, love yourself, love others (Matthew 22:37-39). God is love (1John 4:8) and all that He does for His creation is based out of His love. Biblical love is not the same as the love that the culture screams for. God’s love is an “unconditional” love. One that is faithful even when we are not. Jesus tells us that the expression of our love for God is obedience to His word (John 14:21). The apostle John says, “…And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments…” (2 John 1:6). There is somethin...

  Monday morning! You are loved! ...the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11 The Bible ascribes many different names to Jesus, all of which provide great insight into His character and person. Here are some from John’s gospel that I find particularly revealing: The Good Shepherd (10:11) protects his sheep at all cost from predators. They know His voice and follow Him. The Door (vv. 7-9) is the only way to enter heaven. Whoever enters through the “gate” of Christ will be saved. The Vine (15:1-10) is the source of our spiritual life. When we stay intimately connected to Jesus, we bear fruit. If we do not remain in Him, we wither. The Bread of Life (6:25-35) the only one who can truly satisfy our hearts. Jesus feeds our souls with sustenance that never leaves us wanting for more. The Light of t...

  Wednesday Morning! You are loved! For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:14 Read Romans 8:1-17 If you’re a believer in Jesus Christ, God’s Spirit is at work in you whether you feel His presence or not. He’s conforming Christians to the image of the Savior, and the evidence of this transformation is known as the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). These godly character traits are not something we can generate on our own but are divinely produced in us as we yield to the Spirit and walk obediently with Him. We should never underestimate the impact of spiritual fruit when unbelievers observe how we respond to pressure, temptation, suffering, or an avalanche of problems. By demonstrating peace rather than anxiety or practicing patience instead of speaking a sharp word, we bear witness to the beauty of the gospel. One way God uses Spirit-filled lives is ...

  Tuesday Morning! You are loved! I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 2 Timothy 4:7 Read 2 Timothy 4:6-8 Have you ever thought about what God will say to you after you’ve finished the course of your earthly life? The apostle Paul was imprisoned when he wrote the epistle known as Second Timothy, and he knew his life would soon be over. Since this letter contains his last words to the young man he mentored, we can assume that Paul was writing about matters he considered of highest priority. What a blessing, not just for Timothy but for also for us, that Paul took the opportunity to instruct fellow believers and pray for them. He understood that the Christian life is full of struggles, obstacles, and suffering, and through the ages his letter has encouraged Christians to persevere faithfully. And that is possible only if we do what he himself did throughout his ministry—rely on the grace of Christ Jesus (2 Tim. 2:1). In addition, Paul urges...

   Monday Morning! You are loved! Ask, and it will be given to you. Matthew 7:7 There was a place in England where a loaf of bread was served to every passerby who chose to ask for it. Whoever the traveler was, he had only to knock at the door of St. Cross Hospital, and the loaf of bread was his to enjoy. Jesus Christ loves sinners so much that He has built a St. Cross Hospital, so that whenever a sinner is hungry, he has only to knock and have his needs supplied. He has actually done better: This Hospital of the Cross has a bath; and whenever a soul is marred and filthy, it may go to this effective fountain and be cleansed. No sinner ever went into it and found that it could not wash away his stains. Sins that were scarlet and crimson have all disappeared, and the sinner was made whiter than snow. As if this were not enough, there is attached to this Hospital of the Cross a dressing room, and a sinner making application simply as a sinner may be clothed from head to foot; and...