Galatians 5:22-23 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! (NLT) 

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice glad be glad in it! (Psalm 118:4)

I love that verse, so much that I included it in the prayer my son and his bride asked me to say at their wedding. That was a good little gift from God because every time I pray that verse I think of them.

One of my favorite Christmas hymns is Go Tell It on the Mountain.

Go, tell it on the mountain, 
over the hills and everywhere;
go, tell it on the mountain 
that Jesus Christ is born.

In Luke 2:8-20 we can read about how shepherds watching over their flock at night were visited by an angel who said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (v. 10-11) Then many angels appeared to them singing praises to for our Savior (v. 13-14). This, too, was a gift of God’s goodness and assurance to the shepherds.

After seeing the baby in the manger, just as the angels promised (v. 12), they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds (v. 17-18).  

We need to have this enthusiasm about God’s goodness and move forward, in joy, sharing the good news of Jesus every day, not just at Christmas.

Both receiving and sharing the good news is rooted in faith. Those who sincerely tell of Jesus, want all to know Him so they can be saved. Those who receive that message and accept Him do so by faith. Paraphrasing Matthew Henry’s commentary, he says there is rejoicing when the preacher and the hearer come together. One by faith tells of Christ and the other gains faith in receiving this good news (Romans 10:17).

So, be confident in God’s goodness and joyfully go tell it on the mountain, every day so all will hear!

Are you a preacher? Do you tell others about the good news of Jesus? That is what all believers are called to do (Matt 28:18-20). One doesn’t have to be an ordained minister to minister to others by sharing the good news. This is the goodness of God, that He equips us for His good purpose.

Romans 10:14-15 (NASB) How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who ^[i]bring good news of good things!”

Go to the Table of Contents to read more posts in this series on the Fruit of the Spirit as they go live.

It’s October so this must be time for 31 Days of Five Minute Friday Free-Writes. The event is hosted by Kate Motaung over at Five Minute Fridays. We write daily for five minutes, or maybe a bit longer. The point is to write. Kate provides writers with a one-word writing prompt each day. Today the prompt TELL.

“Go Tell It on the Mountain” is an African-American spiritual song, compiled by John Wesley Work, Jr., dating back to at least 1865, that has been sung and recorded by many gospel and secular performers. It is considered a Christmas carol because its lyrics celebrate the Nativity of Jesus.  www.godtube

Matthew Henry full quote: “They cannot hear without a preacher; how should they? Somebody must tell them what they are to believe. Preachers and hearers are correlates; it is a blessed thing when they mutually rejoice in each other—the hearers in the skill and faithfulness of the preacher, and the preacher in the willingness and obedience of the hearers.