Sunday Inspire - The Message or the Messenger

Sunday Inspire – The Message or the Messenger

Post author:Jacqueline
Post published:September 3, 2017
Post category:My Thoughts

Philippians 1:18 (NLT) But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.

Many times I am in a conversation with others and I will hear things like …did you see what he/she was wearing, how can they call themselves so and so. Or, who do they think they are etc. Many times I find myself saying – look beyond that, we can learn from everyone. We just have to take what is relevant and throw out the rest. I do not excuse myself from this practice either, because it is human nature and the best of us will do it at some point. It is called “judging.”

Seriously though, a lot of good lessons can be learned if we focus on what Paul said in Philippians Chapter 1. It is, what really matters – when we move beyond what we see, what really matters in life? Is life about us and our expectations? Or is it about what we should be doing as children of God.

In verse 15-18 Paul says while referring to others attitude towards him – “It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.”

Should we really be measuring each other? Or should we allow God to do that. If someone we do not like is preaching the truth does it diminish the truth based on who the messenger is? So then, what should our focus really be – the message or the messenger?

I encourage us all today, before we judge or reject anyone irrespective of the circumstance (work, church, every day impact); why not choose to listen in love. Perhaps the very answer we seek will come through the very person that we question their integrity or appearance or whatever causes us to second guess each other.

If persons were to (forever) look at Paul based on when his name was Saul many of us would be hopeless today. The many lessons that came through Paul would have been forever rejected.

We should all remember that each of us is a work in progress and we will all have shortcomings. It does not prevent our Father from using us to fulfil His agenda. Remember that verse found in 1 Corinthians 1:27 “Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise….”