I have come across a term this week: third person Christian. In essence, it means Christians who think a message is not for them, but for another. Now don't rush for your dictionaries because it is a made up expression, but I quite like it all the same. It kind of works.
Mark Batterson makes the point that when people hear something pertinent it is for them to give to someone else. How many of us, if we are honest, think this?
There are times when I have really felt a passage speak to me as a pastor and automatically think it is for another person or the whole church. However, when I have time to reflect I can realise it is actually for me! Can you believe that? This can be a hard thing to concede when you are not in the frame of mind to listen for yourself.
I think for those of us in leadership this is a hugely important thing to be aware of, especially when we are giving out all the time. Of course, God wants to speak to us about our own character issues. He wants a one-to-one relationship with us first before we give out. How dense can we be?
So let me ask a couple of questions: do we always make a point of first reading the Bible for ourselves before others? Do we hear from God with a view of having a word for others or ourselves? Tough isn't it?
I find when I don't carve out personal devotional time to reflect, pray and worship I put myself in a precarious place. It takes humility and discipline to put it right.
In fact, I would have thought it is nigh impossible to lead others in the presence of God if we are not to be found already in that place ourselves hearing first hand.
ASD
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