Short and sweet thought for the week…
Good news/bad news jokes abound. For example…
Good news: Your favorite TV show got renewed.
Bad news: It’s only on a streaming service you can’t afford.
Good news: You got a reply on your email today.
Bad news: It was from a Nigerian prince.
Good news at your yearly physical: Your cholesterol has stayed the same:
Bad news: Research findings on cholesterol have changed.
These jokes could go on and on and on. If someone were to say to you, “I have good news and bad news, which do you want to hear first?” What do you answer? Do you want to hear the good news first or the bad news?
Years ago, a study in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin revealed that most people want to hear the bad news first because they think they’ll feel better if they end with something positive.
However, those who had to deliver the news preferred to start with the good news before the bad news. The researchers call it “priming emotion-protection,” which actually means that maybe the bad news won’t seem as bad if something good comes first.
Personally, whether I’m giving news or receiving it, I’d rather have more of a sandwich approach. Give me some good news, then hit me with the bad news, and end with some more good news.
That’s why I like to start my day with a devotional or a little Bible reading before I hear any current news reports. It doesn’t take much murder, injustice, disease, politics, fires, floods, war, hate crimes, conspiracy theories, or mayhem to dampen my spirits—and that’s the real news, not the fake news. With all the media options available, it is easy to access bad news 24/7. No wonder so many people are depressed.
So after hearing some bad news, I like to fill my mind with some really good news—Jesus!
When Christ was born the angel said, “I bring you good news of great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10).
Did you know that the word “gospel” in the Bible means “good news?” So here’s the gospel, or what I call some really good news: Jesus came to earth. Jesus dwelt among people. Jesus loved us while we were sinners. Jesus died for our sins. Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus lives in us. Jesus will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
Good news: God is allowing us to live another day.
Bad news: The world is going to hell in a handbasket.
Good news: Christ brings hope to a hopeless world.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power
of God to salvation for everyone who believes…” ~Romans 1:16
