January 27, 2022 — Excited to Spread the Word?

We had given our breakfast order to Ricky and were waiting for a refill on our coffee when a young woman stopped at the table.

“Hi, Stan,” she said excitedly.  “Mind if I give you a flyer?  I’m getting ready to head off to college and I’m having a garage sale this weekend to get rid of a lot of stuff I’m not going to need. I would really appreciate it if you would spread the word.”

“Be happy to do that for you,” Stan replied as she handed him a flyer, thanked him, and bounced on her way.

“Wow,” I said, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone that excited about a garage sale!”

“Well,” Stan replied, “she’s getting ready for some real changes in her life. Nothing wrong with getting excited about that!”

“You’re right,” I said, “but it makes me wonder how great it would be if everyone was that excited about making eternal changes in their lives.”

“Good thought,” Stan replied. “And it applies equally to the life changes that can occur on this side of eternity once a person has changed direction for eternity.”

“However,” he continued, “speaking for myself, I see that for way too long I was not excited about about spreading the truth. I was more apt to get excited about things that really made no eternal difference.”

“But,” I responded, “weren’t you excited about where you were going to spend eternity, in God’s presence?”

“Of course,” Stan replied, “but it was only when I began to see that it’s likely that God is excited to see who I bring with me, it was only then that I got excited about spreading the truth.”

“You really think God gets excited about that?”

“I do,” Stan replied. “The Bible talks about the joy in heaven when a person repents. I think it’s likely that the joy comes from excitement.”

“And you want to be excited about what excites God?” I said. “Is that the point?”

“Bingo and Amen,” Stan responded with a smile. “If He gets excited when I spread the word, that’s what I want to do!”

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Bible verses to consider:

And the word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great number of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.  Acts of the Apostles 6:7.

Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:12-15.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17. 

I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:7.

Prayer:  Thank you, Father, that there is nothing more exciting to hear than the free and gracious provision of life with you eternally when my time here is completed. Thank you also for the exciting news of being able to know you in an ever-deepening personal relationship on this side of eternity. I confess that too often I am not excited about telling other people about your provision so they, too, can know and be excited about the truth. Please forgive my failure to be excited about sharing your Good News. Help me in following every step of your lead so I am excited to spread the word of you, your provision, and the fact it only has to be received to make a difference for eternity and for this side before then. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Are you excited because you have accepted God’s free and gracious gift of life eternally with Him when it’s time? If no, why? Is it because you haven’t accepted it? If so, what’s holding you back? If you do have the assurance of salvation and redemption, it’s likely because someone told you about it. Who was that person? How are you doing with being excited about spreading the Good News? Are you more reluctant than excited? If you sense changes may be in order, how are those changes going to happen? Would you like to be excited about sharing the Good News with people who don’t know? Why or why not?