by Jim Hughes
Is. 55:10-11 The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
One of the great mysteries of the Gospel is how God uses it when it is sent forth. The effectiveness of the Word to bring about change in the human soul lies solely in God. We can do nothing to cause anyone to hear the Word and let it change their life. Nothing. The messenger is only that, a messenger. It doesn’t matter how well or powerfully the messenger may speak. It doesn’t matter how knowledgeable he may be. It doesn’t matter how acceptable he may be amongst man. It is not about the messenger; it’s about the message.
The Word never fails to fulfill its mission that God sends it on. When God’s Word is proclaimed, God makes sure that someone gets the message He intended for it to deliver. It always touches a need and produces fruit in the heart of man. Always. We must never pass up opportunities to get the Word out, because God has promised that when we do proclaim it God will bless our efforts and use His Word. It doesn’t matter how you do it or how well you do it; it just matters that you do it. Do your part and God will do the rest.
God sends His Word out. He knows where and when it is needed. He knows who to send it with and to. He never fails to offer people an opportunity to hear it and apply it to their life. Not everyone is willing to hear, but nevertheless, God gives them a witness. No one has an excuse to reject Him when they hear the Word. The Word will either draw man to God or condemn man for rejecting God. Each will be judged by the Word revealed, whether it be the written or Living Word.
God has entrusted you with His Word. Don’t deny anyone the opportunity to hear it and know it. He holds you accountable for what you do with it. Your life is your pulpit. Proclaim loudly the Word and God so that all who are in your world will hear it. God will put it the soil of people’s souls, water it, nurture it, and cause it to take root and grow.
About the Author:
Spending his formative years in Ft. Wayne, IN, Jim followed the love of his life to southeast Iowa where they married and have spent the majority of their lives. Jim has pastored several churches throughout his life and has worked many years in local factories to help support his family. The father of two married adult children and one son still at home, Jim is a first-time author.
C Through Marriage came into being through many years of pastoral and life experiences. The book first took on a life of its own over 20 years ago when I sought to address the much publicized moral failures of prominent leaders in the church. In the chapter on Chasity, I include the guideliness that I developed then to protect one's self from such failures.
I am a firm believer in order to make sense out of life you have to use much common sense. We need to get back to the basics of what has worked for many, many generations. If is isn't broke, why try to fix it? I strive to return to the basics of what really works in all my writings.
