Infectious joy that changes the world
Announcing the Gospel
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What we have seen and heard we announce to you too, so that you may have fellowship with us (and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ). Thus we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
1 John 1:3-4 (NET)
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First John is one of my favorite letters.
(definitely top 66 books of the Bible … 😆)
I love the enthusiasm John has for the love of God and his desire to share it with others.
It’s almost infectious.
If I’m being a little vulnerable, I’d say part of why I love it is because it’s something that I struggle with on my own. I don’t always have the enthusiasm inside to share with others.
While I do get tossed to & fro by my own emotions at times, I am more of a thinker than a feeler.
Which rarely works to persuade people into making a decision.
The truth is, all decisions are made emotionally and then justified rationally.
As much as we would like to believe we make decisions with our minds, it’s really with our hearts.
It seems strange that God would wire us that way, yet here we are.
Anyway, I guess I’m saying I envy the joy John has that leads him to share the Good News with people in order to bring them into fellowship with the Father and His Son.
For those of you who are more naturally led with that infectious joy, I hope you share John’s enthusiasm.
I hope you share the Gospel with many, many others.
For the rest of us, well God commands us to share the Gospel anyway.
We all have our part to play in the Kingdom of Heaven.
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2026 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
