ONE GOOD WORD

2 Kings 3:1-4:17; Acts 14:8:28; Psalm 140:1-13; Proverbs 17:22

“Is there no prophet of the Lord with us? If there is, we can ask the Lord what to do through him.”

“… Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet. … Paul realized he had faith to be healed. So Paul called to him in a loud voice, ‘Stand up!’ And the man jumped to his feet and started walking. When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, ‘These men are gods in human form!’ But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting, ‘Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings—just like you!’”

“O Lord, rescue me from evil people. Protect me from those who are violent, those who plot evil in their hearts and stir up trouble all day long.”

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”

In these days of recession and uncertainty, the world hungers for even a single good word. The last decade seduced us with its unrealistic but very attractive dreams of instant riches and seemingly endless prosperity. Now, we find ourselves awaking in a world we barely recognize and certainly do not understand. Nothing prepared us for this. All we know for sure is that the old ways betrayed us. We have no more idea of what the future holds than did Jehoshaphat and Joram as they were surrounded by angry Moabites. Worse, we’re not sure who to ask. Where is a prophet when you need one?

The fact is, all along, there have been those warning against the basic disregard of economic principles that led to this financial meltdown. Others foresaw the ethical decline and lack of accountability which allowed it to happen. But few listened, because those “prophets” were little more than impotent “voices crying in the wilderness.” No one looked like a seer or superman. They didn’t have the credibility to overcome the pushback of popular opinion or the momentum of the accompanying spiritual erosion. But mainly, they did not speak with the conviction of the Lord or the power of the Spirit, so their words went unheeded.

Christians, be not intimidated! Do not let the Spirit’s voice be disregarded. I’m not recommending street corner preaching. I am commending openly sharing our lives in Christ, and our knowledge of right and wrong, with conviction. If the Bible tells us anything, it tells us that God rarely uses obvious heroes or leaders to accomplish His purposes. He uses everyday people who understand and experience everyday life to bring His hope and good plans to those who faithfully listen every day. In short, the Spirit uses normal, fallible people to minister to other normal, fallible people. People just like us. There is no alternative strategy. The conclusion therefore follows as night follows day: Jesus is probably calling more of us to be more intentional about sharing His positive Word of love and grace and redemption with others. If we think prophecy, preaching or teaching is something that only “better” people are capable of, we do ourselves and our Christ a grave disservice.

One of my most oft-repeated caveats when I am teaching or talking about Christ is to admit up front, “I am the best bad example I know.” What ministry I have is not based on having all the right answers or having my life together. Far from it. People pay attention to my witness mainly because I share my mistakes and my life and let Jesus’ triumphs over them and despite them speak for themselves. I bring hope to those who hurt just because I have experienced the reality that God truly does make all things work to good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. I am not qualified to speak for or through the Spirit because of who I am or what I have done. My qualifications, such as they are, come in spite of who I am and what I have done. Not a day goes by that I do not thank my heavenly Father for seeing beyond my failures to the restoration and reconciliation only His Spirit can inject into my weak efforts.

I wonder how much good news is never spoken because fear and uncertainty mute those who feel they aren’t qualified to share it. Paul was a fallen man, just like all of us. But He was bold enough to speak the Word regardless of how he felt about himself. That allowed God to raise him up, save him and use him to build the Church. What might God do with our words if we had the courage to speak out of our vulnerability and weakness?