ISAIAH 55:11

SUNDAY & MONDAY, AUGUST 26 & 27, 2007

DON’T DELAY IT, SAY IT!

11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV)

During my Seminary Internship, I preached a terrible sermon. As soon as I said AMEN and finished speaking, I knew it was bad. I didn’t even want to greet the people at the door after the service. My Internship Supervisor knew I was upset and while the offering was being received, he came over to me. I said to him, “That was bad wasn’t it?” He nodded, “yes” in agreement. But then he told me, “Just remember that God has said that His Word never returns to Him void, but that He uses it for His own purposes.” The closing liturgy quickly continued. As Pastor Hageman and I walked down the aisle to the back of the church, I was feeling better. I am happy to say that the people of Zion Lutheran Church in Muscatine, Iowa, were very kind and did not say a word about how bad the sermon really was.

Are you hesitant to teach Sunday School because you think you might not know what you need to know?

Are you hesitant to talk to someone about their faith because you may not know the right words?

Are you hesitant to be a part of a Bible Study Group because you might say something wrong, or that you think you don’t know enough?

DON’T DELAY IT, SAY IT!

I wonder what great changes could take place in our world if all who claim to be Christians would speak about Christ. Possibly the only way someone might hear the word “Jesus” other than profanity will be if you say it, and then let the Holy Spirit work in the life of the hearer. God’s Word spoken by you is never wasted; there is no such thing as a bad sermon or a faltering stumbling word of faith, so...

DON’T DELAY IT, SAY IT!

WE PRAY:

O give Thine own sweet rest to me,
That I may speak with soothing power

A word in season, as from Thee,
To weary ones in needful hour. AMEN.

LORD, SPEAK TO ME from cyberhymnal.org

A SUGGESTION FOR LIVING THE DEVOTION

Consider finding a way to discuss with someone the Sunday sermon or the lesson in the Adult Sunday School Class. Maybe you and a friend or friends might have lunch together after Church or meet for coffee or breakfast on Monday morning. If you get accustomed to discussing your faith with a friend, you will find it easier to share your faith with others.