Messenger
A messenger is someone who carries a message from one person to another. If it’s good news, all is well. Sometimes when it’s bad news, the messenger is blamed for his/her message. This can happen in business when the news is bad, it’s tempting to blame the person delivering the news when they may have no responsibility at all tied to the news they delivered.
I’ve had to deliver bad news on multiple occasions in my job. A buyer didn’t get the house they really wanted – that’s hard. On other occasions, I represent the seller and the value of the house comes in low on appraisal. Delivering news can be fun and it can be a huge struggle. Check this out….
1Meanwhile, Elisha the prophet had summoned a member of the group of prophets. “Get ready to travel,” he told him, “and take this flask of olive oil with you. Go to Ramoth-gilead, 2 and find Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi. Call him into a private room away from his friends, 3 and pour the oil over his head. Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: I anoint you to be the king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run for your life!” (2 Kings 9”1-3 NLT)
This was a volatile situation that this prophet was headed into. I sometimes wish I could run after delivery of a hard message. Sometimes it takes a minute for an individual to process the news they just heard. Bad news is hard to receive, no matter who delivers it. I can remember an incident when I was young, when my Dad’s dad was at death’s door and Dad rushed home to change clothes and go to the hospital. When Dad came home, Mom had just gotten word that Dad’s boss had died suddenly of a heart attack. His Dad and his both, both died the same day. It was stunning. My Dad was part of two funerals on the same day. His boss was a lot like family, he had worked there for years.
When the message is hard to receive, it’s tempting to turn on the one delivering the message. I should treat the messenger as neutral and work at processing the message. It’s hard to receive news that hurts. I’ve been a messenger and it’s not easy delivering bad news. I have learned that I’m the messenger of bad news, it’s better to speak plain and not try to “sugar coat” the message. It will sting at first and then need to be processed.
I want to be a messenger of the Lord delivering the hope that Jesus brings. I wish that everyone could have the peace of God in their hearts that only comes through trust and surrender to Jesus. That message is old, but it’s still true today. Jesus brings hope into our broken world. There will be people who hate me for saying that. There will be people who agree with me. There will be people who will ignore that message. I feel called by the Lord to deliver that message with my life, my actions and my words.
Pressing On!
Dwayne