Being a Waymaker

“Our message needs to be shared with grace and seasoned with salt. We can engage in conversations in a natural way that makes people hungry for God’s truth.”

Imagine if God suddenly appeared, asking you to deliver an important message. In the Old Testament, prophets communicated whatever God wanted them to say, even when the message wasn’t popular. Jeremiah wasn’t sure he was up for the job: “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” But the Lord said He would be with him and put words in his mouth (Jer. 1:9).

As Christ followers, living on this side of the Cross and Resurrection, we too have been given an important message. But I think some of us are reluctant to share it. We fear that we won’t have the ability to explain the gospel clearly, that people may ask difficult questions, or that we won’t be able to change stubborn hearts.

I’ve learned that changing hearts is not my job. When I first started in ministry, I found myself, within 6 months, burnt out from trying to save, rescue, and change people. At the time, I thought God was probably glad I was on His team. Suddenly there I was, out of commission. God spoke to my heart clearly. I knew He was saying, “Don’t try to do in the power of the flesh what can only be done by the power of the Spirit.” You see, by ourselves, we cannot change others. Only God can do that, but people will be touched when we let God speak through us.

Friend, that truth is liberating. Our message needs to be shared with grace and seasoned with salt. We can engage in conversations in a natural way that makes people hungry for God’s truth. Jesus showed us how! He went where the people were, so He could speak with them. Recently, I attended a party where I was able to talk to five different people about the things of God. As I listened to the concerns in their lives, I found natural opportunities to share God’s truth.

Most people are open to spiritual conversations if we engage them the right way. As “waymakers,” we can let people meet a Christian who will talk with them and care about them. We can point to the solution for the problems plaguing their lives. We can point them to Jesus. And our message is backed by God’s unlimited power. Yes, you can be the waymaker that holds open the door and points to the One who can meet and transform them.

BY Dr. Mark Jobe, President

Dr. Mark Jobe is the president of Moody Bible Institute. He has served as the lead pastor of New Life Community Church, one church that meets at 27 locations. Mark earned a diploma from Moody Bible Institute in 1984, a master’s degree from Moody Theological Seminary, and a doctorate in transformational leadership from Bakke Graduate University. He is the author of What Now?: How to Move into Your Next Season (Moody Publishers) and can be heard on Bold Steps, a daily program on Moody Radio. He and his wife, Dee, have three adult children and four grandchildren.