on message

A messenger is a traveler who goes out from one place to many places bearing news. He goes out and returns after the message is delivered. He goes not of his own will but of the will of the one who sends the message. He goes any distance, in any conditions, for the meaning of messenger is realized only when the message is delivered. The messenger does not create the message and is not responsible for the recipient’s reaction.

Christians, as messengers of the good news about salvation in Christ, are travelers in the world. Their home place, the place they go out from is nowhere on Earth. They go out from the kingdom of God into the kingdom of this world. They go out but they also return. They return to the Word, prayer and fellowship. They return to be refilled with the message they carry.

Their motivation is the command of the message’s Creator. They do not go without his countenance. They go by every means into every land. Wilderness, deserts, jungles, places no other motivation would suffice to compel, they go to, for, that is the recipients address. They dare to go because of the importance of the message they carry. They go because the very meaning of their calling is the transmission of their charge.

They are not the author of their message. They received the message along with the mission to transmit it from the author. They ensure delivery not content. Reactions from hearers may vary. Hearers may be more or less enthusiastic about the contents of the message still the message must be delivered.