|
|
“We are not saved to be “channels only,” but to be sons and daughters of God. We are not turned into spiritual mediums, but into spiritual messengers; the message must be part of ourselves.”
When I observe Christians, in church, on television or in the mirror, I am often confused by the inconsistency between what I hear and what I see. Sadly I have not often had the experience of someone moved closer to God after observing my life. In fact, I have heard expressions of surprise when folks have learned I’m a Christian.
“The Son of God was His own message, His words were spirit and life; and as His disciples our lives must be the sacrament of our message. The natural heart will do any amount of serving, but it takes the heart broken by conviction of sin, and baptized by the Holy Ghost, and crumpled into the purpose of God before the life becomes the sacrament of its message.”
My favorite preacher is not always a great speaker. Sometimes his messages are magical. Sometimes not so much. He often skips and drifts. He tells me what he’s going to tell me and then tells me what he told me. He sometimes doesn’t finish what he starts or doesn’t even start what he intended. But his passion, his life and his service are so real that I am always ready to listen.
It is worse to speak the good news and live inconsistently than to not speak the gospel at all. St. Francis of Assisi once said, “Preach the gospel at all times, if necessary use words.” I am preaching every minute of my life. I’m not always preaching the gospel.
“Pentecost did not teach the disciples any thing; it made them the incarnation of what they preached – “Ye shall be witnesses unto Me.””
Lord so fill me with your spirit that You will be seen in my every action and heard in my every word. Bless me so that I may be a blessing.
Be blessed.
Nick
Be the first to reply