DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE MESSAGE OR THE MESSENGER?

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE MESSAGE OR THE MESSENGER?

"Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, 'The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!' And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker." (Acts 14:11-12)

It seems to be human nature to elevate the messenger above the message. Paul and Barnabas experienced this dilemma. Barnabas and Paul spoke the message of the Gospel (vs. 7), "speaking boldly in the Lord, and bearing witness to the word of His grace" (vs. 3). They not only spoke the Word, but signs and wonders accompanied their message.

One particular miracle brought their ministry to a head. A man who had been crippled from birth was in the audience when Paul spoke. At Paul's instruction, the man leaped up and walked. This caused a great commotion because the people recognized that something special had happened, and they began to worship Paul and Barnabas, thinking that they were gods.

How often do we confuse the message and the messenger. We hear a charismatic person speak or see someone do powerful ministry and we glorify the speaker rather than giving God the glory for the message. I often hear people say they follow a personality such as Joyce Meyer or R.C. Sproul or some other ministry, and the speaker becomes the focal point instead of the message. It is so easy to place our attention on the messenger rather than the message.

It also happens the other way. The message may be God's word but it is not accepted because the messenger does not speak well.

It would do us well to put our emphasis on the message rather than the messenger. It is true that God has gifted some people with the ability to speak persuasively and with authority. But that does not guarantee the validity of the message. The speaker who stumbles over his tongue may just have an important message.

Let us listen to the message. We can be grateful for good ministers, but let us not confuse the messenger with the message.

Love, Dad