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Don’t Knock The Message, Check The Messenger!


         A sister plunked into the sofa beside me, raised her hands exasperatedly and declared: ‘I am tired of this my office people, I preach to them, they just won’t listen. They mock me at every opportunity they get. Pastor I tell you, it’s hard telling people about the good News!’ This is the state of mind of so many wonderful children of God. They try to witness to their neighbors, colleagues, friends and families and they are not taking seriously. Where could the problem lie? Is it that the message and mode of delivery are wrong? We know the message of Christ is hundred percent fool proof. If that is so, then something must be wrong with the messenger! The reality is if the messenger lacks integrity, the message cannot be believed by the recipients. The messenger cannot be believed if his/her very posture negates the message. When people listen to you, they listen beyond the words you speak. The Bible tells us that Nicodemus, a Pharisee, a leader, ruler and an authority came to Jesus at night. Since he was one of the leading lights and authority in the laws, he must have noted something about the Person of Christ that made him eager to want to know more about His message. When he got to Jesus, he said: “…Rabbi, we know and are certain that you have come from God (as) a Teacher, for no one can do these signs (these wonder works, these miracles – and produce the proofs) that You do unless God is with Him” (John 3:2b). Nicodemus trusted the Messenger and so was ready for the message. Likewise, when Christ met the woman by the well, through their conversations (without any visible miracle performed), the woman trusted Him and went in the strength of that trust to invite the people of her town. In the same vein, despite her reputation in the town, the men listened to her and believed her – something changed in her disposition and they noted it. A true messenger is one that believes totally in the message he/she carries. Don’t be fooled, your listeners are able to tell the sincerity in you when you deliver a message. Christ, John the Baptist and the Apostles were all trusted even by their enemies because they not only carry a great message, they were living proofs of the message they carried! 
           Friend, the message of Christ you carry is it reflected in your day to day living or you only mouth the words? If truly you are a trusted messenger, people will be eager to follow you to your God: “…’In those days, 10 men from nations of every language will grab the robe of a Jewish man tightly, urging: Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you” (Zechariah 8:23b). Ruth trusted Naomi and chose to follow her God; Queen Esther’s maids trusted and believed her God and they fasted with her; king Darius trusted the God of Daniel to deliver him (Daniel) from the lions’ den and then went on to issue a decree that the God of Daniel is the living God! Friend, do you practice the love, holiness, righteousness and faithfulness you advocate? The Gospel of Christ is clear; we must ‘do’ before we ‘teach’. Friend, the reason, the teachings are ineffective is because the ‘doing’ is defective. As a child of God, you are a light to the world. If truly you are light, how many have come into your light? There’s no time, Jesus Christ is almost back, fix what is broken, straighten that which is crooked and carry the message of Jesus Christ in truth and integrity. God bless you.

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