The Tribune

By Rev. Angela C. Bosfield Palacious

Jesus said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15.

KNOWING THE GOOD NEWS

1. Jesus is the best possible friend.

2. He has proven his love on the cross.

3. He has forgiven our sins.

4. He has given us a new beginning here.

5. He has given us eternal life when we die.

6. He is a healer.

7. He is the way pointing us back to God.

8. He is the Truth he teaches us right from wrong physically, mentally and spiritually, and teaches who God is.

9. He is the Light shining hope, peace, joy, grace, mercy and love in a dark, dark, world.

10. He opens our eyes to see the beauty of life.

11. He and the father sent the Holy Spirit to be with us always as Counsellor, Comforter, Guide and Sanctifier.

BELIEVING THE GOOD NEWS

1. How do you use what you know?

2. How do you wake in the morning? Is it with devotions, worship, scripture, and prayer?

3. How do you act through the day? Is it with kindness, courtesy, pleasantries?

4. What is it like to live with you? Are you helpful, firm and fun loving?. What is it like to work with you? Are you honest, trustworthy, reliable?

5. Is it clear in the community that you have Christ in you?

6. Do you represent Christ well in the church?

7. Do you lead by example?

8. Has your reconciling God made it possible for you to live in peace with others as much as possible?

9. Can others see how you treat others with the highest regard, approach God with reverence and yourself with respect?

The people who know us need to see the change in us that comes as a result of our faith. Seeing is believing, and believing is to be visible for them to see and believe themselves.

SHARING THE GOOD NEWS

1. You have to know and believe the Good News, and then you are better able to share it effectively.

2. You share with your words as you talk about God’s saving grace, about redemption, salvation, forgiveness, new beginnings, eternal like and an ever present Holy Spirit.

3.You share with your example of love, joy and peace and the other Fruit of the spirit as you are gradually transformed to become a little more like Christ as time goes by.

1. You touch hearts as you use your spiritual gifts in ministry of various kinds all undergirded by love.

2. You invite others to visit and hopefully join your faith family.

3. You send words of encouragement in every conceivable form appropriate to the person and the situation.

4. You tell stories about what Jesus has done for you as you show others how far you have come by the grace of God.

5. Your story is your gift, your proof, your witness, your testimony, your light, your truth, your way.

6. Like the woman at the well, you lead people to Jesus by the sincerity of your convictions, and the power of your passion. They come because of what she says but the truly believe because of what they experience for themselves.

7. You are the signpost pointing to Jesus.

Look around you and determine who needs a word about Jesus. There is a whole world of people waiting to see the light. Everyone needs the Lord.

• Rev Angela Palacious, a motivational speaker and author of several devotional books, is an Anglican priest. She may be contacted at 393-9000 or by e-mail at angelapalacious@gmail.com.