Somebody is Listening

 

Pushing discouragement away, I again prayed the same prayer. I had begun to wonder if the truth I was sharing was making any difference. I know, both from God’s word and from experience, that the troubles we experience in this life have their answers in One: in Jesus. But is this truth I’m sharing getting through?

In John 1 we read of the work of John the Baptist. In verses 19-28, John boldly speaks to the religious people that there is one who stands among them, “the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” (v. 27)

The next day, in verses 29 – 34, John’s proclamation grows stronger as he sees Jesus coming toward him and declares, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (v. 29)

Day 3, John again speaks plainly the truth, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” Two men with John hear the words John has been boldly declaring and as a result, they follow Jesus. (John 1:35)

Day after day after day, John the Baptist sows seeds of truth into the ground around him. Whether to those deliberately questioning him or to those who are within earshot, John speaks truth boldly of who Jesus is. John consistently shares who Jesus is and why He has come.

You may feel that while you are stepping beyond your own fears and boldly sharing who Jesus is, nobody is listening. Day after day, you keep sharing who He is and what He has done in your life. You wonder if it matters.

I would guess that John the Baptist would have experienced the same thing. Who doesn’t when they share the One most precious to them? Yet, John was consistent. Day after day after day, he spoke of Jesus. We don’t know how many listened and had their lives changed except for these two men mentioned. These two heard John’s words and followed Jesus.

They heard John and followed Jesus. Whether it was the first time they heard John’s testimony, or whether this was just one of it many moments, this time, John’s boldness moved them to change.

Let’s choose to be in the list of those who are also moved by John’s testimony. Like John, let’s not give up sharing Jesus; who He is and what He has done for us.

Especially don’t give up because of what you don’t see. We won’t always see and we don’t always know who we are impacting when we share our Savior. Your child may roll their eyes, walk away or even say they don’t believe what you believe. The woman at work may seem as hard as stone, but the one around the corner of the cubicle is desperately listening. Like John the Baptist, keep speaking up, because somebody is listening. You may not know it. You may never know it this side of heaven, but God has given us this promise: “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.” Isaiah 55:11 (NLT)

When we share the truth of who Jesus is, God is sending out His word through us. He promises us that His word will always produce fruit. It will always accomplish what He wants it to and it will “achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11b, NIV)

Today, be bold. Keep speaking. Keep sharing. Keep trusting that while you may not see what is happening, God is at work and “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

Lynn