January 23

Good News

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: — Luke 2:10 BSB

Every work of the Gospel is like a ringing joy-bell. There’s an old Eastern tale about a wondrous tree that bore golden apples and silver bells. When the wind blew, the apples would fall, and the bells would ring, filling the air with sweet music. In the same way, the Gospel continually drops rich blessings and fills the world with joy.

The Gospel is always good news. No one is made sad by it. It brings good news to the guilty sinner, offering forgiveness. It brings hope to the struggling soul, offering strength to overcome. It offers a second chance to those who have failed and are in despair. It comforts the mourner, assuring them of God’s love and that good will come from their sorrow. Everywhere the Gospel goes, it brings joy and hope, never sorrow.

Think of all the joy the Gospel has brought into the world. It has turned sorrow into songs and transformed ruin into beauty. The hymns of joy sung throughout the Christian centuries are echoes of the angel’s announcement: “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy.” We must make sure that we let this good news into our hearts so that we can share in the joy it brings. Then, we should become bearers of that joy ourselves, spreading the good news and letting others see in us the deep joy the Gospel brings.