Through an illustration
“Give these rebels an illustration. Tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Put a pot on the fire, and pour in some water.’” Ezekiel 24:3 NLT
Throughout the Scriptures, we see how God seeks to communicate with us in ways that we can easily understand. In this passage, the Lord asks the prophet Ezekiel to use an everyday, visual example to convey a profound teaching to a people who had become rebellious and hard-hearted. This reminds us of the vital importance of the way we communicate the message of the gospel; it is not enough to speak, but we must ensure we are relevant, clear, and practical so that God’s truth transforms the lives of those who listen to us.
- The importance of being relevant It helps a lot to teach using illustrations, parables, and stories that people can clearly identify with. When we use everyday examples, we make it much easier for the audience to understand the message we are trying to explain to them.
- Making the complex simple Good communicators are those capable of taking a complex topic and explaining it in a simple and digestible way. On the contrary, there are teachers who take a simple message and make it unnecessarily complex, thus losing the attention and the hearts of the people.
- The danger of not being understood The Bible teaches us that the easiest way the enemy, the devil, steals the teachings of the Word from a Christian is when they are not understood. As the Gospel of Matthew says, when anyone hears the message and does not understand it, the evil one quickly comes and snatches away the seed that was sown in their heart.
- Excellence and practical relevance The fifth value of our ministry is precisely excellence and practical relevance. The Bible will always be our manual for life and our rule of faith and conduct, but our great responsibility is to explain it in such a way that people can leave the church and apply what they have heard to their lives that very same day.
- Creativity guided by God The Lord Himself gave the direct instruction to Ezekiel to use a common object to illustrate His point. We also need to ask God for wisdom and creativity to stay connected to the real needs of the people and provide them with messages that are of profound benefit.
At the end of the day, our goal should not be to impress others with great theological knowledge or sophisticated words, but to connect God’s heart with the latent need of the people. When we are intentional in using practical and relevant methods to teach, we close the gap between the biblical text and daily life. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to grant us that constant creativity and grace to explain His holy Word so clearly that no one is left without understanding it, and that every teaching imparted becomes an immediate tool of transformation in the lives of those who listen to us.
“Give these rebels an illustration. Tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Put a pot on the fire, and pour in some water.’” Ezekiel 24:3 NLT
Think About It:
- In what way can you simplify how you share God’s message with your family or friends so they can understand it better?
- Are you making sure to practically and immediately apply the teachings you hear at church in your daily life?
- Ask God today to give you creativity and wisdom to be a more effective and relevant communicator in your environment and sphere of influence.