Faithful Envoy

For Friday, October 21, 2005
Proverbs 13:17

A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but a faithful envoy brings healing.

I can't help but apply this to preaching. I tremble for the preacher who uses his pulpit to preach that the Scriptures are not reliable, waters down the Gospel to a formula of good works, and assures sinners and unbelievers that they have nothing to fear. I tremble for the preacher who uses his pulpit to preach politics and push his social agenda. I tremble for the preacher who is not faithful in preaching the message of his scripture; who wins a following for his entertaining style and not his substance; who becomes a self-help guru instead of a prophet for God's Word.
Such a messenger will fall into trouble before the God who supposedly called him to be a faithful envoy of the Gospel and the full counsel of God found in Scripture.

But the faithful envoy who week after week proclaims God's Word and makes it clear, such a person truly brings healing to his people who hurt from sin and sinning; who need to hear God speaking to them; who need to hear again and again the Gospel. Real healing comes from God's Word working in us; so much that comes from pulpits are diversions to take our attention away from our wounds, or they are bandaids to make us feel better for awhile, thinking that we have been healed, when the wound is as deep as ever.

Lord, annointed our pastors to be faithful envoys in the pulpit. Don't let me be content with preaching which does not give me your healing Word, even when that healing Word causes pain. Amen.