Preach the Good News

February 4

(Luke 4:42-44 NIV) “At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. {43} But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent." {44} And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.”

(2 Timothy 4:1-5 NIV) “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: {2} Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. {3} For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. {4} They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. {5} But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”

Jesus needed time alone to stay in touch with His Father, and to keep His calling in focus. Jesus healed people, and they would beg him to stay and do more. But Jesus was called by God to preach the good news in as many places as possible. He said, “I MUST preach. That’s why I was sent.” And so He left a place where His healing ministry could have been very lucrative. Jesus was a preacher. He is still preaching if we will listen, but we resist. A favorite phrase in our culture today is, “Don’t preach to me. I don’t want any sermons.” We don’t want anyone speaking God’s truth to us, even though we desperately need it. If this is your attitude, then you don’t want Jesus. Jesus was a preacher. That’s why He was sent. He is still preaching through faithful, obedient, Spirit filled servants who have heard His call, and those with wisdom will be hearing Him. Are you listening? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day