February
23, 2003
GOD'S
MESSENGERS
"In
very truth I tell you, he who receives any messenger of mine
receives me; receiving me, he receives the One who sent me"
(John 13:20, NEB).
Do you
comprehend what Jesus here is saying? In these words, Jesus
stated a most amazing truth. He is saying that anyone who
receives a messenger of His is receiving Christ Himself, and
more than that, he is receiving the Father.
When
you and I share the love, graces and knowledge of Jesus with
family, friends and neighbors, and they accept our witness,
they are receiving the Spirit of Christ and of God into their
lives. They receive Jesus and God the Father through us. This
is awesome. What a privilege it is to bring Jesus, our Lord
and Saviour, and the Father Himself to a child of God who
may not know Him.
Have
you considered that making friends for Jesus is making friends
for eternity. God has shared with us the awesome opportunity
to be messengers for Him. As His messengers we are involved
with introducing people to Jesus who loves them and forgives
their sins and cleanses them. He is their Friend, and our
Friend.
How can
a person know whether or not a messenger is from God? The
Lord spoke time and again to His people Israel through Isaiah.
Israel's unfaithfulness caused them to "Seek those who
are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter." God
said to His people, "Should not a people seek their God?..
To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according
to this word, it is because there is no light in them"
(Isaiah 8:19, 20). The law (torah), the revealed will
of God, is the common Biblical term for the inspired writings
of Scripture, particularly the writings of Moses. God through
Isaiah directs mankind away from the words and wisdom of spirits
of devils and directs them to the wisdom of God as revealed
in the Scriptures.
God's
messengers speak in harmony with His messages written in the
Scriptures. Paul said, "Be transformed by the renewing
of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable
and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2). We are transformed
by the revealed will of God, our Creator. He has revealed
Himself to us in the Scriptures.
Blessed
are those who are found faithful to the Word of God. They
will reflect His love, His graces and His saving truths. "He
who - - receives Me -- receives the One who sent Me!"
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