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.” (Matt. 3:16)
Jesus began his ministry secure in God’s love. Before he had performed a miracle or preached a sermon, long before he died on the cross, he was “well-pleasing to God.
Remember that acceptance as you 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 job 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 to 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 do for an event; cost of various print or online church marketing options, the difference it makes if you send out a reminder postcard or email. 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 your 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.
Most of all, so fill your life with knowledge of God’s Word that your words will be permeated with his love and truth. Having done all of that, trust his promise, “So is my word that goes out forth from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isa. 55:11).
Remember that acceptance when you feel you know so little about computers, publication design, website creation, and the multitude of new technologies you are required to master. Jesus had much ahead of him when he heard these words of assurance by his Father. Humanly he had no idea how he would 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.
This excerpt is from Devotions for Church Communicators by Yvon Prehn
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