“…and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” Ephesians 6:15
What messages did you have to deliver this week? I am sure some were easy, like “Happy Birthday!” Maybe “You won!” Or “You have an offer on your home” or other item you are selling. But for some, the message may have been harder to deliver… “It’s back…” whatever that thing is you have been battling. “Your card was declined.” Or the open-ended phrase, “We need to talk,” which could mean so many things.
Let’s face it, some messages are harder to deliver than others and what I find is delivering truth is a message hard to come by these days. Some are great at delivering unapologetic truth; they often have polarizing popularity from others. Then there are those who try to say what the receiver wants to hear, so for now, they are in good standing with that person. And then, there are those that have a great message to deliver, but choose not to speak it for whatever reason, fear, uncertainty, lack of confidence? And that message remains undelivered.
I wonder how many messages go undelivered that may really help heal and improve the world around us if the messenger had had the courage to deliver them? I wonder how many problems could have been ended or stopped if the messenger had delivered the truth verses a message that was easier for them to share.
In my life, it seems whatever setting I find myself in, I am somehow called to be the messenger of difficult conversations. Growing up, I would be the one to go gather people to reconcile. I had a bit of time I was a peer mediator at school to bring together classmates having conflicts and provide a neutral ear to listen and guide to resolution. When I had children, I became a full time conflict manager (ha! Unpaid for that position, but one of the hardest and most demanding roles I have held). In the work setting, I have been the one to bring up the avoided issue, address the long-standing difficult employee, and question the process that needs a new look. But who wants to be a messenger of difficult truth?
“..and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” Ephesians 6:15
Jesus was like the king of all messengers of a difficult truth. The gospel of peace should be a positive, easy message to share right? I mean, Jesus, God’s son was sent to live a sinless life to suffer, die, and rise again so that you can have eternal life. I mean great news! Then why did so many people scoff, reject, challenge, and start wars over this? Well…if it is true, it means change. Likely changes some don’t want to or aren’t prepared to make and well, if they can “shoot the messenger” they can bury that message in the backyard and keep on living the way they are.
Sometimes the “gospel of peace” doesn’t come out like a Bible verse; it is more a call to action on a change in a particular part of our life. Maybe we need to clean up the relationships we are in, be wiser with our money, be less selfish with our time, and switch our priorities. Maybe we don’t even realize the “message” coming our way is from God himself because He has sent it through a human to gently prompt us to a change we need to consider and we turn it away because it isn’t Jesus himself in a white robe. How many times are we ignoring messengers that are sent from God?
“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2
From long ago, God sent messengers to His people. God Himself has spoken to people in historical accounts, He has sent angels, He sent Jesus, and He has sent humans who are often called prophets to be messengers. Regardless of the messenger, I think an important thought is, how do we receive the message? With belief and action, or disbelief and inaction?
You may be thinking, “How do I know a false messenger from a God-sent one?” This is a great question.
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?…Thus by their fruit you will recognize them.” Matthew 7:15-20
Does the messenger contradict God’s word or authenticate it? What are the fruits in their life? A false messenger won’t have many to show or they won’t match the message, but one of authenticity will have proof and evidence of what God has done in their life that is supported by scripture.
Paul also warns us against this; don’t elevate the messenger of “good news” as a “god” himself.
“Friends, why are you doing this (making sacrifices to the messengers)? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them.” Acts 14:15
Father, open ours eyes, ears, minds, and hearts to hear your voice today and going forward. Let us be wise to the messages we listen to and receive as well as wise to discern those messages we should turn away. When you send a messenger to us with a message we need to hear, let us know and act accordingly. If you call us to be messengers, help us to do so in a way that will be effective and beneficial to the hearer. Thank you for sending messengers to help us on our earthly journey until Jesus returns to us. We love and appreciate you. In Jesus name, Amen.
P.S. I was originally looking for a photo of me during my second pregnancy. It was a time in my life that I received a very difficult message from a woman. She was a counselor walking me through some difficulties I was having in my marriage and the question she asked me knocked me out of my body and changed my life forever. I am not sure I liked her very much in the moment or what she implied, but I am so glad she was a messenger of truth to me to help set me free. This photo was shortly after that and equally relevant as I have my arms wrapped around two unsuspecting messengers that God sent to teach me many, many truths from a package I never would have expected them to be delivered in!
Father, Today I Surrender:
My Message
Show me the next step I should take.