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Daily in the Word|Daily in the Word for Wednesday, October 15, 2008 Episode
A Clear and Unmistakable Voice
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
Isaiah 40:1–3
In a world screaming for answers, Christians are stuttering.
I once read an author’s description of an illustration used to teach on the subject of witnessing: “We took a young volunteer from the room and blindfolded him. We simply told him that when he returned, he could do anything he wished. He remained outside the room while we instructed each audience member to think of a simple task for the volunteer to do. When the volunteer returned, they were to shout their individual instructions at him from where they sat. Prior to this, we privately instructed another person to shout a very specific task at the blindfolded volunteer as though it were a matter of life and death. This person was to attempt to persuade the blindfolded volunteer to climb the steps at the back of the auditorium and embrace an instructor who was standing at the door. He had to shout this vital message from where he sat in the audience.
“The volunteer was oblivious to all instructions and previous arrangements. The volunteer represented our young people, the audience represented the world of voices screaming for their attention, and the person with the vital message represented those of us who bring the message of the Gospel to youth. The blindfolded student was led back into the room. The lecture room exploded in a din of shouting. Each person tried to get the volunteer to follow his or her unique instructions. In the midst of the crowd, the voice of the person with the vital message was lost; no single message stood out. The blindfolded student stood paralyzed by confusion and indecision. He moved randomly and without purpose as he sought to discern a clear and unmistakable voice in the crowd.”
While there was a voice telling the blind student which way to go, the voice was drowned out by all the other voices around him. The way was there; but the volunteer missed it by not being able to hear it.
The same principle is true in life. As Christians, we know the true way to salvation, yet in the midst of our witnessing, there are many other voices distorting God’s truth.
The world is screaming at people, leading them to eternal separation from God. How much more important is our message to them! Yet many times Christians shy away from speaking up and telling others the way to go.
Think of all the different voices around you in the world today. Imagine how a lost person must feel by listening to all of them! Christian, you have the one message they so desperately need to hear. It’s the only way they can find Christ! Don’t stutter. Don’t whisper. Speak up and tell others of Christ. They need you to show them the way to true salvation today.
To hear Daily in the Word, the daily radio broadcast of Dr. Paul Chappell, or to subscribe to the daily podcast, please visit dailyintheword.org.
Daily Bible Reading
Isaiah 45-46 • I Thessalonians 3
[ Tue, 14 Oct 2008 23:53:53 -0700 ]
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