Page 115 - First Steps 2023

And, like you, they’d walk away a lot less anxious about their finan-
ces. A lot more at peace.
And there’s the real gift: Paying off your loan is nice, but the peace
that comes from having that debt off your shoulders? That’s priceless.

When anxiety moves out, that makes room for peace—and peace is
what people want more than almost anything.
Think about it: When you’re talking with friends, how long does it
take before they tell you what’s unsettling in their lives? What’s bother-
ing them, what’s going wrong at work, what’s crowding the margins out of
their lives?
One benefit of knowing Jesus is that where he is, peace is. Where he

is, anxiety drains away.
Knowing Jesus can eliminate anxiety and worry. He said, “Peace I
leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).
Having someone hand you peace? That’s good news indeed.
And having that offer be available to not just you but all your friends?
Even better.
The Bible says there’s a debt to be paid when we’ve done wrong
things that get between us and God—and that the debt is too big for us to

pay.
But there’s Someone who’ll pay the debt and replace that debt with
anxiety-reducing peace and hope. As a gift.
As a Jesus-follower, you’ve accepted that gift. But is there a friend
who needs to hear about Jesus? Someone who’s having difficulty? Some-
one who could use a hefty dose of anxiety-erasing peace?
If so, you’ve got something they need to know.

That’s the heart of sharing good news: a desire for others to enjoy
the peace you enjoy, a life available only through Jesus.
If that’s your heart for someone in your life—a friend, family member,
colleague—tell your discipler who that is now. It’s who you’ll be talking
about the remainder of this hour.

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