Bible Study

The Note Passers

By Felicity Slemp

John 20:21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

Have you ever passed notes in class? You didn’t write the note, but you were the go-between, flying under the teacher’s radar to get the note from the writer to the recipient. You were an important link in that communication chain and you probably felt even more important if the note was from your friend to “that special someone” your friend really liked.

In the spiritual world, you and I are the note passers, the go-betweens. God has a message for the people on earth and he has given us the message to pass to them. The biggest difference between passing notes at school and passing on God’s message is that, with God, we get to know what’s in the note. In fact, we must know what’s in the note so we can pass it on to the people who need to hear it.

Jesus came to Earth to show us how to share the message. God sent Jesus to share the message about His love and forgiveness, and Jesus teaches us how to be the next link in the chain. Just as God sent Him, now Jesus is sending us. It’s our turn.

? What fears keep you from passing the message to your friends and family?

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? What fears do you have when you think of sharing the Message in another culture?

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Remember that Jesus doesn’t ask us to save people, He only asks us to be faithful to share – to pass the message - whenever we have the chance. Jesus also says that we don’t have to worry about whether or not we will know the right words to say. He promises that the Holy Spirit will speak through us to give us the words of witness that we need (Matt. 10:19 – 20).

However, we can do our part to be ready to give an account for the hope that is in us in order to make the most of every opportunity. Close this devotion with prayer. Pray for the following things:

• Thank God for sending a “note passer” to each of you so you could learn about God’s love, forgiveness, and salvation.
• Ask God to show you how you can pass the message on the story of His work in your life to the people around you.
• Ask God to remind you that when we feel afraid of ministry that He didn’t give you a spirit of fear, but a Spirit of power and love, and self-discipline (2 Tim. 1:7).