What We Need to Hear

Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow Me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”

Matthew 4:19 (NLT)

When I was a radio host in my youth, I had an interesting and insightful audience. Everything I said held great importance in their eyes. And when the time came to open the lines to listeners, the switchboard would light up: so many people would call in to ask me questions. One day, after a show dedicated to setting goals and identifying priorities, a young boy asked me how to capture an audience's attention. I replied: "Tell your audience what they want to hear, and they will listen to you. But tell them what they need to hear, and they will follow you."

When Jesus asked His disciples to follow Him—promising to make them "fishers of men"—this is exactly the concept He sought to convey to them. His call was directed at those who earned their living by fishing, catching fish to sell either at the market or to the highest bidder. Surely, Peter had to tell his customers exactly what they wanted to hear in order to persuade them to buy his catch. Yet, through His call, Jesus presented them with a vision far greater than a simple commercial transaction. He wanted to teach them to tell people what they needed to hear for the sake of their souls. The Bible does not reveal how many customers Peter had, but it does indicate how many people were converted after hearing his message, and that of the other disciples alongside him.

Often, your messages fail to touch the hearts of your audience because you are engaging more in marketing than in the proclamation of the Gospel of salvation. You strive far too hard to find the "right words" to capture their attention, whereas what they truly need to hear is the crystal-clear message of Jesus Christ crucified. If you seek only to say what they want to hear, they will listen to you and be satisfied; however, their souls will not be pierced by your message. But if, like Jesus, you tell them exactly what they need to hear and then allow the Holy Spirit to use every word and every phrase that issues from your lips to stir up conviction in their hearts, you will save their souls.

May the grace and peace of God be with you.