The Herald

Are you listening? Shhh...

Can you hear it? Silence...

There it is... “And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and (II Timothy 1:11 NIV)...”

Silence.

Like a radio broadcasting silence, sometimes the chambers that echo require the stillness of voice. Tuning in to a broadcast that isn’t pumping tunes or some sort of harmonized talking can cause the listener to go through a series of checks: the connections, verify the system is logged on, reboot, switch station and go back, seek another avenue to find the program. All valid steps but when it is proven to be the broadcast then what do you do?

Prayer is often a broadcast. It is lopsided to our advantage. We bow the head, bend the knee, we prostrate, but in it all, we broadcast our petition. God is always tuned in to His creation. There isn’t a hair of the head that is not know to Him as the scriptures tell us in Matthew 10: 30. We can find a benevolent God who cares deeply for His creatures.

But... Yes the but! When the lines of transmission are interrupted, when you are hearing nothing more than a silence, when you feel as if the prayers are just refuted back to you or bouncing around the vastness of space, when you... stop. Still. Go to the place where He can find you. Or rather the place where you can find Him. David told us to be still and know that He is God and that He would be exalted in the nations and over the earth (Psalms 46:10 NIV).

Exalted on High! Praised for being God of the heavens and the earth! He will be rejoiced over!

Funny thing is, I don’t see that. Do you?

We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12: 1-3 NIV)... but what are they witnessing?

Back at base station, HQ, things are all transmitting in proper accordance with the directive from the GM. The herald has been broadcasting the entire time! It never stopped. Transmission lines were interfered with, but the work continued because it was necessary. The lines of transmission came back up to normal operations after a while and the culprit was found out.

“...My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me (Acts 20: 23-24 NIV)...”

Don’t let panic or confusion set in when the lines of communication are interrupted. Don’t let despair and recklessness set in. Hold onto the hope that was given to you in Christ Jesus as we’ve mentioned before in Colossians 1: 27. Hold on to His hope and He will carry you through. Although it isn’t easy, it produces a fragrance that heaven stores. It produces a different type of prayer that causes the gaze of Heaven to take notice.

Take a moment soon and reconnect with the Father. Stir up what is inside of you and draw close as James taught us. He is beginning a new thing He desires to be exalted in the nations and on the whole of the earth! It’s not over finish your race. Plow the ground where you are. Don’t check out. When the horns sound, you’ll know His Angel is heralding the good news!

Godspeed, The JourneyMan

Ps. Today’s story comes from the stacks of family life. A scenario that played out in a college broadcast and the loss of connection. Keep looking to the Lord the time is short and stay in the game!

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Psalms 46: 10 NIV “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted on the earth.”

Matthew 10: 30 NIV “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

Acts 20: 23-24 NIV “I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

Colossians 1: 27 NIV “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Hebrews 12: 1-3 NIV “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

II Timothy 1: 11 NIV “And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.”