"Songs of Praise"

I don’t watch the BBC programme “Songs of Praise” every Sunday! However, I do watch from time to time. This evening, the programme came from the Northumberland coast, and was presented by Aled Jones.

In one little harbour that he visited during the programme, I noticed a small fishing boat with the unusual name – Glad Tidings. I was waiting for some appropriate comment from Aled but, unless I missed it, there was no such comment forthcoming. What a missed opportunity!

The words “glad tidings” are words that were read all over the world just a few weeks ago (Yes, I know that it seems ages ago!). They are part of the message that the angel brought to the shepherds as he informed them of the birth of the Christ-child. “Behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy.” (Lk.2:10) And that, of course, is the heart of the Gospel – the Good News. The glad tidings are that although you and I stand guilty before the great Judge of all the earth, He has become one of us in order to pay the penalty for your sin and mine.

As we were reminded at Liberty Community Church, this morning, “… He was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet YHWH laid on Him the guilt and sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet He never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, He did not open His mouth. From prison and trial they led Him away to His death. But who among the people realized that He was dying for their sins – that He was suffering their punishment? He had done no wrong, and He never deceived anyone. But He was buried like a criminal; He was put in a rich man's grave.” (Is.53:5-9a)

Psychologists tell us that one of the major causes of mental problems is a lack of forgiveness! The glad tidings – the Good News – about Jesus, the Christ, is that forgiveness is available for all who are genuinely sorry for their sins, and who are willing, with His help, to live their lives in accordance with His will.

It was also interesting that the name was on a fishing boat. Because this is another aspect of the Gospel – that we are to be “fishers of people”. (Matt.4:19). This doesn’t mean trying to get a large hook into people’s mouths but, by living our own lives for Jesus, making Him so attractive to them that they want to follow Him themselves. That’s a real challenge for me – and perhaps for you as well?!