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Listen while you read: "Worship The Lord"1
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Mark 4:31 – God's kingdom is like a mustard seed, which is smaller than any other seed on earth that you can plant. (ERV)
Recently, I was travelling back from a church committee meeting with two other pastors. As we drove home, we talked about how a word preached at the right time to the right person can have a profound effect on their life. A short phrase, sentence, or illustration can impact someone in the pew and change their life forever. The Word of God, no matter how insignificant to other folks, never returns to Him empty.
I remember many years ago preaching in the Scottish country church that I served. I thought that my sermon was mediocre, a wee bit long-winded, and perhaps even boring. In the congregation that day was a visitor from Northern Ireland whom I had never met. Something that I said clicked with him, and when he went home, he gave up his successful job and business because he decided that his talents would better be used to help people in places where war and famine occurred. Within a couple of months, he used his skills to prepare, organize, and build 250,000 temporary shelters for refugees in Africa. Almost a million people were physically saved through his work, and all because some wee word of hope and challenge had been given in an unexceptional sermon. A mustard seed of faith had been planted in his heart, and it blossomed into an amazing work of deliverance given by God.
God doesn't just speak through sermons! Whenever we sincerely share God's Word, even in conversation, with words of comfort or challenge, the potential to change things for the better is always present. Perhaps, something that you share today — an exchange of ideas, a social media post, a phone conversation, or even a text — will have a profound effect on someone else's life. A mustard seed of faith may be included in your message, and God knows that it will not return to Him empty.
Isaiah 55:11 – So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (NIV)
Point to ponder: With whom can I share God's Word today?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your words of life have won our hearts and changed our lives. You have implanted seeds of faith within each of us. May we now sow those same seeds in the lives of others who need them, too. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
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About the author:
John Stuart <traqair@aol.com>
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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Thank-you John.
A wonderful story, John. Thanks for sharing.
Well put. Thank you, John, for a word well spoken.
Thank you, John, for this example that shows how we, too, can share God’s Word with others in many different ways.
Good morning, John,
This is an amazing story, thank you for sharing.
God bless.
Great devotion. God was certainly glorified! Thanks for sharing a wee word to us this morning.
God bless you.
You nailed it, John.
And likewise John, the Gospel message is simply to the one who has ears.
Blessings.
Thanks John, your devotional shows the power of just a few words spoken at the right time, we must always remember the importance of that, but I fear we seldom do. Thank you for reminding us. Blessings.
John, I love your thoughts about the impact that our words and actions — though sometimes simple and perhaps mediocre as you described — can have on others. This gives good food for thought!
John,
I don’t believe you have ever delivered a boring sermon!
Keep inspiring us!
Blessings.
John, this is a great reminder of how God can use little words we speak, even when we are unaware. We can always speak encouraging words of hope that are evidence of a living God working for our good all the time.
Thanks for causing me to reflect on that.
Thanks, John, for another of your very mindful and uplifting devotionals. Your words in that sermon that day really sparked the right reaction in that fellow for sure.
It is amazing what reaction a word can produce, and it is important for us to be careful of words we say. Reflecting on God’s word and sharing His word can certainly have positive results. Blessings for your writings.
Good morning, John,
It is interesting that you found out the change this person from Ireland made in his life. I love the title “a wee word”. It is so appropriate. I believe most of us can remember something that was said which affected how we think, feel, act, respond, or change. It is good when we realize it was God who made that happen and that He is looking out for us. Thanks for sharing from your experience. It is a really good prayer that you shared with us today. Blessings.
Awesome, John. I LOVE to hear your personal testimonies. Thank you so much. I’ve just been sharing with my son about his recent ‘thoughts’, ‘revelations’ about us being God’s holy temple – and comparing it to the ‘pictures’ of the original temple, with the separate areas working from gentiles, through women’s area, men’s area, priests’ area, to the high priest’s holy of Holies. We talked at length of our individual relationships with the Father – the Holy Spirit etc.
Those conversations are always springboards for new insights – just as your testimonies are. Praise God for frequent exchanges of ideas and experiences in light of God’s Word. God bless.
Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. Blessings.
Good to ‘hear your voice’ and a wonderful reminder that God knows where he wants us even when we don’t recognize or are unaware of where He has directed us.