by the Rev Bill Green, Keighley Shared Church

“Do you want the bad news or the good news?”

All of us prefer good news. Yet we don’t hear much good news.

Someone told me that they had stopped watching the TV news because it was all bad news and so depressing. When we think about the daily diet of news, then it seems to be all about wars, terrorism, crime, floods and much suffering. Not much good news there then.

However if we are prepared to look more closely at the news, we can often find little nuggets of good news.

I was reminded of this in the reports of the recent floods. Amongst the heart rending stories of the hardship to so many homes and businesses, there were some wonderful examples of selfless giving of time and materials by volunteers to help the flood victims.

If we want to read about good news we need look no further than the Bible. The word Gospel itself means Good News. The good news is that God loves us, yes each one of us. In a world where there is so much suffering and hurt we all need love, and God pours out His love to us all.

The most famous verse in the Bible, John 3:16, says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

God showed His love in action by sending Jesus Christ, his Son, to die for the sins of the world so that we might have eternal life.

God’s love is eternal and for everybody. Rejoice today in the good news that He loves you.