Last year we found out that we were expecting our second child. And as soon as I heard the news, I began to hope for a son. I love being a girl dad, I actually wanted a girl first! But since I already had Ella, I really hoped that we’d have a boy. So, a several months passed, we got the blood work done and recieved a letter in the mail. By that time I had already convinced myself that it would be a girl. But when Ragan opened that letter and we saw the blue and read, “It’s a boy!” I jumped up and down like a kid. I was so unbelievably excited I couldn’t wait to tell everyone about the news that I was going to have a little girl AND now a little guy running around. To me, it was good news and I couldn’t wait to share it.

Well, today, we are going to look at Proverbs 15:30 which reads,

Proverbs 15:30 ESV

30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones.

And as we look at this, we will be reminded both of the importance and power of our words, how encouraging news can be to us and to those we share it with, and, most importantly, the joys of knowing and sharing the gospel with those around us and we will find this as we consider this text in four parts.

The Joy of Giving and Getting Good News

What is the best news you’ve ever received and how did it make you feel? Who was the first person you told?

Well, as we look at this text, we find that the light of the eyes rejoices the heart. Mitch Chase explains that to mean that the person who has the good news is just elated, super excited about what they have and its infectious. When I was in the office writing this, Pastor LaTour came running into my office with the biggest smile on his face. I mean, this man looked like a kid on Christmas morning, and he wanted to tell me about an awesome stunt that he saw on Americas Got Talent lastnight that he thought was the coolest thing. Now, when you see someone get that excited, it just gets to you, doesn’t it? It’s infectious.

Well, the messenger is overjoyed. And when he shares it, it refreshes the bones of the person he tells. It revives them, energized them, encourages them. It makes them happy or relieves them.

The other day one of the memories on my phone came up and it was me recording my in laws opening up a gift that announced that Ella, their first grandaughter, was on the way. And as they opened it, my father in law gets so excited he starts doing this funny little dance that I think about a lot.

Good news has that kind of effect on us, doesn’t it? It can take a bad day and make it better. It can take worrying hearts and make them smile. It can simply turn our mood around.

Well, a few weeks ago we read Isaiah 52 together on a Wednesday night. And it really brings a picture of good news.

Isaiah 52:7-9

Isaiah 52:7–9 ESV

7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” 8 The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. 9 Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.

Did you see that? In the midst of a dark time, comes a messenger yelling out the good news that the God of Israel and those tired and stressed out guards here it and they are so overjoyed they start shouting! Well, our second point is about the greatest of good news, the gospel.

The Greatest of Good News

Ephesians 6:15 NLT

15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.

As believers, we are to live in and walk in the joy of the gospel. We are right with God! We know Him and He knows us and loves us! We have been forgiven and are accepted as one of His own! That is life changing, that is relieving, that is encouraging news! And so since we know the truth that Jesus saves sinners, we first must believe it and as it has changed our lives, we go forward to share it with others.

1 Peter 1:8 ESV

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,

Psalm 16:11 ESV

11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 4:7 ESV

7 You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.

We live in a tired and hurting world, don’t we? People are beaten down, mistreated, stressed, hurting, and anxious. But we, according to Jesus in Matthew 5, are the light of the world. We are the messengers of hope in darkness. Jesus says that He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. He said He is the way the truth and the life and since we believe this, we just have to tell others!

So, what do we carry from this?

The Gospel gives hope to the hopeless, so we should share it.

The Gospel gives joy in the midst of sadness, so we should live in it.

We should be reminded of the power of our words and use them wisely.