I am writing this on the last day I am receiving a newspaper delivered to my home. The Ocala Star Banner has decided no longer to deliver papers to customers. They still print newspapers, but I wonder how long that will go on since they fired most of the staff several years ago.

Newspapers have been around for about 500 years. Before that you had to depend on heralds to announce the news, or messengers to bring hand written communications. That’s pretty much how most of the New Testament came about. For example, Paul wrote letters to a number of Christians communities where they were read aloud so people could get the information. Copies were made and sent to other places.

The Bible often talks about messengers. One book is even entitled My Messenger–that’s what the word Malachi means. One of my favorite passages is Malachi 3:1: “See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me which Jesus interprets as referring to John the Baptist.

I am a little concerned about what will happen as newspapers disappear. I’m really concerned about what will happen as messengers of the Lord disappear. Who? People who tell the Good News of Jesus Christ. I hang around churches quite a bit. I hear preachers telling the Gospel. I rarely hear members talk about the Good News Jesus. How are people going to know about Jesus without messengers to bring the news?

Hey all you messengers!  Let’s make sure the Good News of the Lord gets delivered.

Read Romans 10:14-15 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne