The Honorable Messenger

Matthew 11:2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples (ESV)

I wonder what it must have been like for John. To be imprisoned, only knowing what was going on by the word of his disciples. We see in Luke 7:18 another account of the same story, “the disciples of John reported all these things to him.” John has placed a great trust in his disciples. Sending them out in hopes that they were going to deliver his word to Jesus and in turn, return with an accurate report of what Jesus had told them. I look at this situation and think of how I am a disciple of Christ, taking the word he has given me and sharing it with those I come in contact with. Just as John has placed a trust in us, Jesus has also entrusted to us his word. “By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” He has entrusted us to rightly handle and represent before the rest of the world his word. John’s disciples could have chosen to be faithful messengers, delivering the message quickly and speedily. But the delivery of the message is not the important part. See if the disciples could not first listen, then regardless of their ability to relay the message, the outcome would not have been as was indented by their sender. Are we taking the time to sit down and listen to what Christ is speaking to us, or do we briefly skim his word and rush out the door to fulfill our busy schedule. If we do not take the time to listen to his word, then how do we expect to accurately to portray his message. As ambassadors of the Gospel we should be finding ourselves daily before the Lord. Then, and only then, once we have slowed down to listen and plant his word in our heart, comes the importance of the delivery. I am confident to say that this part of the process will come with power and authority as long as we establish a consecrated life before the Lord. You see someone who allows the word of God to speak to them and change them from the inside out, is then able deliver the message with power, boldness and authority. Matthew 10:19-20, “When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the spirit of the father speaking through you.” So here we see two key aspects of a disciple of the word of God. First we listen, on our face daily before God, in a daily personal devotion centered around his word. Then comes the delivery, the part we are so often eager to do ourselves, yet forget God is the one who speaks through us to begin with. Remember who our sender is, let him turn you inside out to then deliver his message through you.

Application:
I want the word of God to change me, to turn me upside down and shake my life. Today I will pray to God that he would give me a passion for his word. That it would speak to me, and then he would empower me to deliver it with passion, power and authority.