If we are more used to oppressive leadership than we are benevolent leadership, we will be suspicious of any good news. The challenge is, when we are suspicious, we miss the gift that is being sent to us from heaven. The Pharisees did not see Jesus for who He was, because He came as a different kind of leader. The people and the leaders were used to oppression, so when benevolence showed up, they did not know what to do. They longed for it to be true, but their actions revealed they had a hard time believing Him to be as good as He said He was. They were not afraid to eat the bread and fish he provided or listen to him teach for hours, but follow Him with their whole life, that was not something they were prepared to do, for He seemed too good to be true.

Our history and current reality is oppressive, so when we hear good news we tend to resist it rather than receive it. Not because we don’t want it, but we don’t believe it will last. Reality has trumped faith in our ability to believe what the Bible says is happening. We find verses to match our judgmental, oppressive, nothing is going to change, everything is getting worst end times theology and then wonder why believers are miserable, broke, sick and angry. Last time I checked the Bible is called the gospel which means good news. Not sure how we lost the ability to preach, prophesy and teach good news, but I threw myself overboard off of that ship a long time ago and I will not get back on board there ever again.

John 16:33 says, In this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world. The world is hard, it is challenging, we live in the world but are called to not be of the world. Therefore, I remind myself I am the light shining in the darkness and the darkness cannot over the light in me. And when things get hard, I remember what David said in Psalm 20 “May Yahweh give you every desire of your heart and carry out your every plan as you go to battle. When you succeed, we will celebrate and shout for joy. Flags will fly when victory is yours! Yes, God will answer your prayers, and we will praise him!” I don’t know about you, but that is some good news and it is not too good to be true, it is the truth and I am declaring it today for me and for you. He is truly that good, that benevolent, that kind, and that powerful.