God Speaking

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation.”

(Isaiah 52: 7)

Good news is always welcome and during this last year of anxiety, fear and the ups and downs of living through a pandemic, good news at some points of the chaos, was hard to come by. People were in lock down, confined to their homes, the elderly, felt very isolated. Churches were closed, but it soon became apparent to all those who followed Jesus that his message of love needed to be still shared with others. We all needed to become messengers of God.

I had an experience myself as I live alone and felt discouraged when an e-mail from a friend popped up on my computer. It was a very encouraging, message and my spirits lifted, and I felt this person had been prompted by God to send me that message. I decided that I too could be a messenger of God if I spent time with him asking who he would want me to contact.

In the Old Testament, that is how God spoke to his people through his prophets who listened to his word and faithfully transmitted it to his people.

We have a wonderful example of what can happen if believers become messengers.

We read in the book of Acts, that after Jesus had been crucified and been resurrected his followers were anxious to spread the good news, but many were thrown into prison, but an amazing occurrence showed them the power of the one they served.

“But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. “Go and stand in the temple courts,” he said, “And tell the people the full message of this new life.” (Acts 5: 19 – 20)

The apostles became avid messengers of the good news and brought hope and joy to thousands.

I have a beautiful little book called, God’s Promises and it is filled with the promises God has made to his people and to all of us who are his children. Sometimes when we are lonely or downcast, we heed to hear that message and the first of John’s letters reminds us.

“How great is the love that the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are.” (1 John 3: 1)

Sometimes we can be the messengers of that beautiful truth to someone we know who needs to be reassured that they too are God’s children.

Another beautiful promise is one that we can all hang on to no matter what upheavals are happening in our lives. We do not need to be afraid we will not be able to cope.

“Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:  6)

We can all ask God to be one of his messengers to bring love and comfort to others.

“Like the coolness of snow at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him he refreshes the spirits of his masters.” (Proverbs 25: 13)