Bearer of Good News
Acts 13:32
“And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,”
You see them coming, and you’re trying to find an escape route or an excuse to quickly get away from them. It is that person who is the bearer of bad news. It doesn’t matter how good something can be, they are the one who always sees the negative. The biggest mistake you make is asking them how they are doing, for they will be sure to tell you all the bad going on in their life. Nobody enjoys being around this type of person.
The Apostle Paul was not a bearer of bad news; instead, he was a bearer of good news. Paul said in the verse above, “And we declare unto you glad tidings,…” Paul wanted people to walk away with the promise that they could go to Heaven. Let me make this clear, he wasn’t a “prosperity gospel” type of preacher. Paul certainly told people there was a punishment for their sins, but he also encouraged them with good news.
Christians should be the bearer of “glad tidings.” Throughout the Scriptures you will find that God wants us to encourage people. You are not going to be one who encourages others if you are always bearing bad news. If you always see the glass as half empty, then people are not going to want to be around you, yet, when you can look at every circumstance and see the good from it, then you will be surprised how people will want to follow you. The world is hard enough without Christians always bearing bad news. This world needs somebody who will bring sunshine to a dark day. Let me give you some suggestions on how to be a bearer of good news.
First, you need to yield yourself to the Holy Ghost. You will notice in verse 52 that the disciples were filled with the Holy Ghost. It is amazing how the Holy Ghost will cause you to see things in a different light. Our flesh tends to see the negative, so we need the Holy Ghost to point our eyes to see life in reality. In other words, the Holy Ghost will allow you to see both the good and bad. When you can see things that way, you will find that the good always outweighs the bad.
Second, look for the good in everything. If you are going to be a bearer of good news, then search for it. I have found that no matter how bad things can get, there is always something good in it. It may take me some time to find it, but there is always good. You must choose to find the good and focus on it if you are going to be a bearer of good news.
Third, avoid those who bear bad news. One of the reasons a person is a bearer of bad news is because they live in a world of bad news. You will never find the good in life if your are constantly feeding yourself with bad news. I’m not saying that you should not live in a world of reality, but you don’t have to live in the world of bad. For instance, I rarely watch the news. Instead, I choose to read the news so that I can choose what I want to read. I’m current on world events simply by glancing at the news. If you live in the world of the negative, you will not be a bearer of good news.
Friend, this world needs you to be a person who bears good news. Yes, we ought to bear the good news of the Gospel, but I also believe we ought to be a person who bears good news about life in general. It is a choice to be a bearer of good news, so choose to be that one who brightens the dark days by bearing good news.