Daily Reading for Monday, Feb. 18: Sharing

Core Value:
Sharing

Making Christ known is our purpose in life!

God's message of forgiveness through Christ is still relevant and necessary today. This message is most effectively conveyed within the context of personal relationships. Therefore, we desire to be ever ready and willing to invest ourselves in others for the sake of the Gospel. We will make every effort to impact our community and the world with the love of Jesus. Our mission is to make more and better followers of Jesus Christ simultaneously. A disciple who is growing spiritually will evidence a growing desire to reach out to those who don't know Christ.

Introduction
Have you ever had something happen to you that you just couldn’t wait to tell someone about it? Perhaps you got a good grade on a test, or a promotion at work. Maybe you had an unexpected windfall, or your child made the varsity team. These are all wonderful things that we rejoice in. And we want others to share in our joy. How much more so do we share the good news of Jesus Christ with others. What Jesus did on Calvary 2000 years ago didn’t stay in that long ago past, but still impacts lives in the present—each and every day. He lives, and His work is still continuing in and through us. We cannot remain silent with such good news. We’ve been redeemed! We’re free! We’ve been given a place at the royal table, even though we were nothing but dirt-covered peasants. And, that is good news worth sharing.

Daily Reading for Monday, Feb. 18

“3 So He told them this parable, saying, 4 ‘What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 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. 8 Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’” Luke 15:3-10 NAS

Sharing the good news. When we pick up a magazine or a newspaper, or when we browse for news on the web, we usually find nothing but bad news. There seems to be little to rejoice about in this world, for fear and a critical spirit saturate our current events. But as Christians, we have good news to share. We offer hope when there is no hope, and we offer help when none seems to be available. We can tell of wondrous things that satisfy the longings of our souls; we can relate the experiences of living a life of richness that far surpasses any wealth the world can relate to. When we share the good news, it is light in the darkness.
We can be like the shepherd who went out searching for the lost sheep. We must be like the woman who found her coin. We have good news to share that will help countless multitudes. Many want to rejoice with us in our treasure; many more want to experience that treasure for themselves. And when we do, the results can make the angels dance.