Episode 3
Week 3: You are accepted and loved before you create your communications
You are accepted and loved before you create your communications. This week, we dive into the comforting reminder that our worth is not tied to our performance or the reactions of others. Drawing inspiration from Matthew 3:16, we explore how Jesus began his ministry grounded in God's love, and how we too can approach our work with that same assurance. It's essential to remember that while we strive for tangible results in our church communications, our value remains constant regardless of our earthly success or failures. So, let’s embrace this truth, pray for wisdom, and trust that our messages will achieve the purpose for which they are sent.
Takeaways:
- In the podcast, we emphasize that our acceptance and love from God come before any work we do.
- Jesus's ministry began with assurance of God's love, reminding us of our own divine acceptance.
- We should measure our efforts responsibly, but remember that true impact may not be visible until eternity.
- Trust in God's promise that our words and work will fulfill His purpose, even when we feel inadequate.
- It's crucial to pray for guidance and support as we navigate the challenges of church communication.
- The podcast encourages us to embrace our roles with joy and confidence, knowing we are loved and accepted.
Transcript
Good morning. I'm Yvon Prehn and I'd like to welcome you to Monday Devotions for Church Communicators.
This podcast will start your week with prayer and a challenge from God's Word. Our topic for Week Three of Devotions for Church Communicators is you are accepted and loved before you create your communications.
And the verse that inspired this devotion is Matthew 3:16, where it says, "As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
And a voice from heaven said, this is my Son, whom I love. With him I am well pleased."
Jesus began his ministry secure in God's love before he performed a miracle or preached a sermon and long before he died on the cross, he was well pleasing to God. Remember that acceptance when you do your work, you are accepted, beloved and eternally secure in your God because you belong to Jesus.
You were chosen for this work because of God's sovereign choosing. No matter what earthly circumstances brought the work of church communications into your life.
Remember that acceptance when discouragements come. Our value does not change depending upon the reactions of others to our work or the seeming success or failure of our projects.
It's part of good stewardship to measure tangible results--how many showed up after what kind of promotion you did, the cost of the various print or online marketing options, the difference it makes if you send out postcard, email, social media or only one of them. All of those kind of things.
But while doing that important recording and evaluation, at the same time, remember, only in eternity will you have a true sense of how your work touched people.
Until then, do the best in your work. Pray for wisdom in choice of words and format. Pray for insight into the hearts of those who will receive your communications. Pray for openness to your message. Pray for protection from problems in production.
where he tells you in Isaiah:Remember that acceptance when you feel you know so little about computers, graphic design, website content, social media creation, and the multitude of new technologies you are required to master. Jesus had much ahead of him when he heard those words of assurance by His Father.
Humanly speaking, he had no idea how he'd feed 5,000, heal the multitudes that followed him or have the strength to die on the cross. He simply trusted his Father.
Rejoice that the same Father who foresaw every step of His Son knows what is ahead of you today and that you are well pleasing and well loved by Him.
Let me pray for you now as you go into your week. Lord Jesus, I pray for the precious church communicators that are listening to this.
Lord, I pray that you would just push away all thoughts of condemnation and when they put themselves down, when they don't feel like they're enough and help them to know that they are accepted and loved by you, Lord.
Help them realize that they were so precious that Jesus died for them and that he's working right along beside them right right now as they work on their projects for the church.
Help them to feel a rest and a joy in you and help them to jump into their projects knowing that you're guiding them every step of the way and that no matter what the earthly results might be, that they are always and always will be totally accepted and loved by you.
In Jesus name, Amen.
For links to lots more materials to encourage you and help you be a better church communicator, go to the website www.effectivechurchcom.com.
The book that the devotions are from is available on Amazon and it is entitled Devotions for Church Communicators.
Hopefully that's kind of easy to remember and I would encourage you to keep listening each week for more encouragement and prayers for you as you do your encour incredibly important work.
