Go Ahead and Shoot the Messenger
Friday, July 28, 2023
“If I have shortcomings, please blame it on the messenger boy, not the message or the One who sent it.” – Bob Williamson
In December 1993, my boss at the Wiley Christian Retirement Community held a going-away party for me. I had worked at Wiley for almost 11 years, all but the first five weeks as Director of Recreation.
In that capacity, I organized various activities for our roughly 300 residents, everything from craft classes, hymn sings, and coffee hours to day trips and even overnight excursions. I thoroughly enjoyed my job but knew that God had called me into full-time prison ministry and so, I gave my notice in February with a resignation date of December 31st.
At my farewell party, a number of residents and fellow staff members said some all-too-kind words and I was presented with a nice bronze clock in a wooden setting. Finally, it was my turn to speak.
“If I did anything right during my 11 years here, please know that it was God working in and through me, and the credit is all His,” I began. “And whatever things I did that weren’t so good, well, that was me,” I continued.
In today’s quote, Bob Williamson is saying something very similar. In the rest of his devotional message, he expands on the theme by saying that too many people use “the church is full of hypocrites” excuse for not attending. They’re right, Bob admits, churches are full of hypocrites – otherwise known as sinners saved by grace – but so is every company, club, school, and team in the world… and that doesn’t stop people from joining or doing business with them.
There’s an old saying that goes like this: Please don’t shoot the messenger. A more accurate wording (as Bob put it) would be: Please don’t shoot the message – or the One who sent it. On the contrary, take full aim at the sinful messenger if you must.
People will always find a rationale for doing what they want and an excuse for not doing what they don’t.
“Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25 (BSB)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
