SUM 11: Day 14

Exodus 4:10-17; Jeremiah 1

I speak. The Lord translates. God is in control. Repeat. God is in control. Repeat.

If the salvation of others were dependent upon my mouth and the words that came out if it, we would be in trouble. Dwayne, a co-worker, agrees. Not because of who I am but because of what I am – a sinner saved by grace who cannot see the hearts of others. Thankfully, God uses our words for His glory and, thus, translates our gibberish and tongue-ties into useable words of love and hope.

Jesus saves. I muddle through a story that my heart sings about.

Like Moses (read Exodus 4:10-17), I do not count myself among great speakers. As a high school freshman, I had a terrible crush on David, a boy who lived two doors down. Toward the end of football, he tore his ACL during practice. He was on crutches. I saw an opportunity. As I walked toward the school bus exit, I stopped. And to David, I said, “Do you want me, your backpack, to help?” “What?” he said. The bus driver was staring at me. The passengers were glaring at me. I spoke again. He quickly shook his head. What a fool I felt! I thank God for thwarting my plan.

Telling others about Christ ups the ante. I catch my foot on the “What ifs” and the idea that someone’s eternity comes down to my words. Reminder to self: I’m not all that and a bag of chips! Perhaps God placed me on a path to share my story and plant a seed, but He’s not going to read a transcript of the conversation, shake His head, wonder what happened and if it could have been prevented. I am not a surprise to Him. Neither are you. (read Jeremiah 1:4-8)

If this is how we are, how, then, do we share Christ with others, tell our story and plant seeds? We speak. And we move. We do. God is in control. (read Jeremiah 1:17-19)

Pray: Thank the Lord for being the ultimate translator and for being bigger than the words that come out of your mouth. Ask the Lord to place on your heart stories that He will use for His glory.

Do: For the next 24 hours, do all you can to help unsuspecting folks and strangers (open doors, pay for snacks, carry items.) When you are thanked, smile and give a note that reads, “I am not all that and a bag of chips. Jesus changed my heart; I hope this helps your day.” Ask God to use the situation for His glory.