CIAM Radio

When my wife and I were raising our three children, communication during the early morning shift at our house was, shall we say, non-verbal. There I was, getting ready for my day. The kids were getting ready for school, and my wife was doing her role of maid, chef, valet, chauffeur.

One morning I was shaving and thinking through an endless list of things I had to do on that particular Friday - all of it the Lord's work of course. I was mulling over a sermon I had coming up, and I was thinking about some radio programs, and about an appointment I had that day, and a couple of events I was planning. My son pops in.

Now, somehow I must have succeeded in letting him know - non-verbally - just how much I had on my mind, because he disappeared as quickly as he had appeared. I guess he got the message. Then as I was praying about all of the Lord's work I had to do that day, suddenly I remembered an important decision my son had to make that day; one that he probably needed to talk about. And the Lord woke me up in those early morning hours with what He told me, then, so I'm going to tell you.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Mission Right In Front Of You."

Our word for today from the Word of God comes from John 4, and I'm going to begin reading at verse 30. It takes place after the woman of Samaria, who met Jesus at the well, has gone back and said, "I met a man who told me all I ever did." And now the town is starting to come to Him. The disciples, who have missed all this, have just returned. It says, "The Samaritans came out of the town and made their way toward Jesus. Jesus says to the disciples, 'Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, 'Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.'" I think He was pointing at all those Samaritans streaming out of the village. "The harvest is here. Even now the reaper draws his wages," He said, "even now he harvests the crop for eternal life."

For the disciples, this town in Samaria was a pit stop. They're looking ahead to some great future ministry...four months till harvest. But they were missing the ministry right under their noses.

Sounds sort of like this man I heard about at the beginning of the program who was shaving, thinking about the ministry he had ahead, and missing a son who needed some ministry right there. You see, you don't have to leave your home to do the Lord's work. In fact, the Lord's work begins right in front of you, right at home. Interestingly enough, in the list of qualifications for leaders in 1 Timothy 3, it says, "Make sure you have somebody whose ministry at home is quality; who has his home under control."

So often we fill up our lives with ministry responsibilities, only to reach other people's kids while missing our own; to bring blessing to God's house while neglecting our first responsibility; the congregation at our house. Many husbands, and wives, and children, and parents, have been victims of a misguided view of God's work that you have to leave home before you start doing ministry.

That doesn't mean you withdraw from every responsibility, but it does mean you take care of the Lord's work at home first. Maybe your unbelieving family member would be better reached by you staying home and spending time with them than by you going to another prayer meeting to pray for them. Your mate, your child - they may need your ear, your encouragement, your counsel as much as anyone you're going to see at that meeting.

Look around your house for the needs that are right there before you. Before you go charging off somewhere else to find the Lord's work. Listen, it's right there in front of you.

The tugboat sank twenty miles off the coast of Nigeria, turning upside down as it fell to the sea floor. Eleven crew members drowned, but the ship’s cook Harrison Odjegba Okene found an air pocket and waited. He only had one bottle of Coke for provisions, and both of his flashlights died within the first twenty-four hours. For three terrifying days, Okene was trapped alone in darkness at the bottom of the ocean. He’d begun to give up hope when divers on a mission to recover dead bodies found him hunkered and shivering deep in the hull.

The image of Okene alone in the dark for sixty hours is unnerving. He told reporters he still suffers nightmares from the horrifying ordeal. But can you imagine what he felt when he saw the diver’s powerful lamp piercing the darkness? What joy and elation, what hope. The prophet Isaiah foretold how, when the Messiah came, all “the people walking in darkness” would see “a great light” (9:2). Left to our own devices, we live “in the land of deep darkness,” but in Jesus, “a light has dawned” (v. 2).

Christ is “the light of the world,” and In Him we need never again fear the darkness for we “have the light of life” (John 8:12). We may feel trapped or hopeless, alone or in despair, but God illuminates good news. Jesus carries us out of the dark and into His marvelous light.

Proxy voting is one way to make your voice count for God’s Kingdom. If you have a 401(k) or an IRA, you may not realize that proxy voting gives you a voice in the companies you own—and it can be a way to live out your faith. As stewards, we’re called to reflect our Christian values, even in how our investments influence the marketplace. But what does that look like in practice? On the next Faith & Finance Live, Rob West and Will Lofland explain. Then, it’s on to your calls. That’s Faith & Finance Live—biblical wisdom for your financial journey. That’s weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio.

Faith & Finance Live is a listener supported program on Moody Radio.  To join our team of supporters, click here.

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Segment 1

• 1 in 5 U.S. adults now get their news from TikTok.

• Kentucky church backs members in checking out LGBT books and not returning them.

• A little girl is adopted into an all-male, three-parent household.

Segment 2

• Hilary Clinton is still making anti-Christian and anti-white male remarks at 77.

• Over 30% of university students believe violence is justified.

• The U.K. names its first lesbian archbishop.

Segment 3

• Muslim mayor in Michigan tells a Christian he’s not welcome.

• Lawmakers propose a total porn ban in Michigan.

• Burkina Faso passes a law banning sodomy — sharp cultural contrast.

Segment 4

• AI “relationships” are growing but reshape morality and ethics.

• Marriage is God’s school of character, shaping us through sacrifice.

• Studies show AI use leads to more unethical behavior.

___

Thanks for listening!

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Listen to today's Laugh Again with Phil Callaway, "Kids' Prayers and Questions." Enjoy!

How can you be certain you're going to heaven? Dr. John Neufeld tackles this eternal question through the doctrine of imputation - the "great exchange" at the heart of salvation. Using 2 Corinthians 5:21, he explains three crucial truths: we're born with Adam's sin charged to our account, Christ took our sin upon himself at the cross, and his perfect righteousness is credited to us through faith alone. Understanding this transforms anxious believers into confident children of God.

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There are teachable moments in life where we suddenly realize we’re adults (or, we’re quickly on our way). One of the heaviest things you will carry is the difficult task of letting your children go. Have you released yours? Will you release them?

In this message, Pastor Chuck Swindoll compares a life of walking by the flesh versus walking by the Spirit. By surrendering control to the Holy Spirit, believers can live free from sin and the influence of their fleshly desires.

From the Series: Romans: The Christian’s Constitution

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