Devotion: Guilty Silence
By Tony Beckett and Woodrow Kroll
2 Kings 7-9, John 1:1-28
Key Verse: 2 Kings 7:9

Early one Saturday there was a knock on the door. The friend standing there asked, "What size suit do you wear?" I told him. He then said, "There's a garage sale two streets over and they are selling suits your size. You might want to check it out." I did. And I bought five designer suits in excellent condition for $10 each! Only one needed any altering. My friend had brought good news.
Having good news is one thing; sharing it is another. If later my friend had said, "I should have told you about the garage sale near you," the news would not have been as good. Getting a good deal on a suit is pretty minor compared to the good news God has given us - the good news of the Gospel. Knowing it and not sharing it is not right.
Four lepers understood that principle. The city of Samaria was under siege and the people expected to starve to death. These men decided to surrender to the enemy, since they figured they were going to die anyway. When they got to the enemy camp, they found that God had cause the Arameans to flee, leaving behind everything. The lepers ate, drank and plundered. "Then they said to each other, 'We're not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves'" (v. 9). Out of fear of punishment, they returned to the city and reported the good news.
We face a similar situation. Our city may not be under siege, but we have good news - Jesus saves! The principle remains: Having good news is one thing; sharing it is another. We have good news that we must tell others. When we keep it to ourselves, how will they hear?