The Very Best News

Read: Psalm 40:9-10

Tyler jumped off the school bus and ran home. He burst into the kitchen. “Mom! Mom! Guess what?” He ran through the house until he found his mom. “I won the spelling bee! I did it!” His eyes shone as he held out a big blue ribbon for her to see.

Mom gasped and gave him a hug. “That’s wonderful, Ty!”

Tyler nodded. “Now I get to compete in the regionals next month! I’ve got to text Jack and tell him.” He picked up his tablet to send a message to his best friend, who had moved away a few months earlier.

“What did Jack say?” Mom asked a while later.

“He thought it was great,” said Tyler. He sighed. “I wish we still went to the same school.”

“I know,” said Mom. She picked up Tyler’s ribbon and looked at it thoughtfully. “A lot has happened since he moved away, hasn’t it? We weren’t even going to church back then, but now we know Jesus.” She smiled at Tyler. “I can understand why you wanted to tell Jack about winning the spelling bee right away. It’s always fun to share good news, and that’s certainly good news. But you have even better news than that. Have you shared it with Jack?”

“Better news?” Tyler asked.

Mom nodded. “The best news of all, in fact—about how Jesus died for us and rose again so we could be saved and have a new life with Him.”

“Oh, right.” Tyler sat down on the couch and sighed. “I’m a little afraid to come right out and tell him,” he admitted, “but I do want Jack to know Jesus too.”

He got up and picked up his tablet. “I’m going to do it right now. I’m going to tell him I’ve got the best news of all!” He paused. “Can I invite him to spend the weekend with us?” he asked eagerly. “I think his mom will let him come. Then he could come to church with us and learn more about Jesus. Would that be okay?”

Mom smiled. “Of course!”

–Beth R. Terpstra

How about you? Have you shared good news with someone lately about something exciting that happened? What about the very best news of all—that Jesus died and rose from the dead so we could be saved? Have you told anyone about that? Share the good news of Jesus with others so they can know Him too! (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?)

Today’s key verse: I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Today’s key thought: Share God’s good news