Speaking on God's Behalf

When did you last speak, or hear someone speaking, on God's behalf? Perhaps you can recall a time when you believed that God had given you some words to share with an individual or with a group of people. Maybe a sermon had a life changing effect on your life. We might see these as rather infrequent occasions. However, every Sunday a variety of people speak to us on God's behalf. These are those who read the Scriptures out loud for us to "hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church." The importance of this ministry is underrated. In his book For Reading Out Loud, Clifford Warne writes, "In being asked to read, you have been given a splendid chance to voice God's word to people; of passing on his words that can change lives and influence the conduct of those who hear." It is the responsibility of the reader to help people "sit up and take notice as God's word comes to them clearly, expressively and understandably." It is the responsibility of the rest of us to hear God's word and act on it.