Isaiah 55:11 – So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (KJV)
For many years I worked for the Post Office. I was always intrigued by letters that would come to people especially letters which you could tell were from friends or relatives. At the end of my postal career, I reverted to being a letter carrier and it was fascinating to watch the faces of people when you handed them their mail and they flipped through to see what they had.
My greatest joy was seeing the face of some elderly person light up when they realized they had a letter from an old friend or relative. They would positively glow. Often they would tell me who the letter was from and who the person was. The next day I would sometimes be invited in for tea and hear all about Aunt Mary or the long lost son or daughter.
Now, I have changed professions; I am a minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church. As one of my best friends said to me the other day, "Really you haven't change professions; just the Boss is different." It took me a while to figure this out, but then I realized I still do carry the Word to people. This time the Word comes from a loving Heavenly Father. The Word now is much more than a pick-me-up, even though it can be that. Now the Word is a matter of life and death, an invitation to a party, an invitation to come home and to join Abba (Daddy) at his banquet table.
When you think about it, each of us, as Christians, shares in this awesome responsibility to deliver "God's Word". We deliver it to anyone who will hear: friends, neighbours, relatives, and, yes, even strangers.
Prayer: Lord help me to deliver your Word to your people, not my word but the Word you wish to speak through me. Help me to remember that even though I may see no reaction to speaking the Word, you promised through Isaiah that your Word will not come back void. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Forward this devotional Share this devotional on Facebook Like PresbyCan on Facebook