by Pastor Rich Carlson

A significant turning point in Jesus’ life apparently happened to Him when His cousin and friend John was put in prison for standing up to Herod. It was this tragedy that marked a growth in Jesus’ ministry. He declared in Mark 1:15, “The time has come…” and He started preaching the Gospel of God.

True to God’s character, the Gospel is described by Jesus simply and clearly:

• The nearness of the kingdom of God
• The importance of repentance
• The need to believe in the good news of the Gospel

We may believe the kingdom of God is near, but even if we don’t understand how it near is, we can still know God wants us there. And we may be repentant, but even if we still stumble from time to time, we have the good news from God as illustrated by Jesus: that we are unconditionally loved, forgiven, and saved by Jesus, because we believe. The rest will fall into place if we focus on that good news!

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. “God Is Faithful” is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.