Every real pastor’s dream! That’s what Jonah experienced
when he first went to Nineveh. God gave him a message to preach and he preached
it. Then the people heard the message and believed God and responded obediently
to what they had heard. Hear the words yourself again, “And the people of
Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the
greatest of them to the least of them.” (3:5)
That’s it. That’s what we pray for and long to see happen in
our churches today. We have been commanded by the Lord to “Preach the Word…with
complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2) so that “we may present
everyone mature in Christ.” (Colossians 1:28) I think I can speak for all true preachers
of the Word that our greatest joy is found in knowing that our hearers are
hearing the Word and doing the Word. God didn’t call us to develop the Word; he
only called us to deliver it. We pray that he will bring about the right
response in those who hear.
What about you? Are you a hearer and a doer? Do you, like
the Ninevites, “believe God” and then do you live based on that belief?
Prayer: Father, I pray for all who preach the Word that you
will help us to be faithful and deliver it in your power. Also, Father, please
help all of us who hear the Word to “have ears to ear” so that we believe it
and live it to your glory.
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