“In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, God’s word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (Luke 3:1–3, HCSB)
God’s word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. God has given you a unique message. While there are lots of other people in the world – as of this writing it’s 7.53 billion – God has given you a unique message to tell. And the choice is always ours. Will we give voice to the message of God or will we remain silent like so many others have done and continue to do?
You will notice in this passage we have just read that there is a king, some governors (tetrarchs are governors), and two high priests. However, if you slow down you will notice God didn’t speak to any of those VIPs. He chose a seeming “nobody” to speak a message that turned people into “somebodies” – children of God.
And this is God’s preferred method. As Paul writes, “Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world —what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, so that no one can boast in His presence.” (1 Corinthians 1:27–29, HCSB)
You have been given a message for humanity. While you may not know it yet, someone needs to hear that message. It will make an eternal impact. That is why God entrusted you with it and you to share it. Something will not be right in the Kingdom of God if you do not share that message.
What’s more, the message God has given you is probably not like what others are saying. I mean, if it was you wouldn’t be necessary, right? The way you speak, the words you use, the tone you deliver it in, and the personality you wrap all that in is the essential key God will use to change a life or lives.
You are amazing! Give voice to God’s message in you!
Willing Worker Wednesdays are dedicated to explaining the core realities of servant leadership – the Biblical principles and methods used by God’s faithful people throughout time. They further reflect the lifestyle of Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords as He walked on this earth announcing the Kingdom of God had arrived. These brief lessons are written by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, and come from his extensive ministry within the local church, in higher education, in church consulting and as a Biblical author and leader. He welcomes your comments below.
