And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.
John the Baptist exhorted the people, which means he encouraged them to take action. He may have encouraged them to believe the message he was preaching about Jesus, to repent of their sin, or perhaps not to give up during their times of struggle. He proclaimed the gospel, which is the “good news,” to them.
Today I say to you that the good news is that God loves you unconditionally. He is for you, not against you; you have favor with Him; your sins are forgiven; and, as a believer in Jesus, you are a joint heir with Him. You share His inheritance (Romans 8:17).
Good news nourishes the bones (Proverbs 15:30). I love good news. Each day I pray for and declare that I will receive some kind of good news, and I encourage you to do the same thing. James said we have not because we ask not (James 4:2), so perhaps you are not getting good news because you are not asking for it and expecting it. When your phone rings, someone may be calling with good news, or when you get mail, it may be good news. John preached good news, Jesus preached good news, and I pray that I will always preach good news. Even if a message corrects you, it is still good news because it will help you change and grow.
Prayer of the Day: Father, thank You for the good news that You love me and are for me. Help me expect good news each day and share it with others, amen.
