When you sit in church and listen to the pastor speak, whose words are you hearing? Do you hear the voice of the pastor and his opinion or do you hear the voice of the Lord?

If you’re keeping up with your daily Bible reading, yesterday you would have read about the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus called her out about her sinful behaviour without ever having met or spoken to her before. The woman, amazed at what Jesus had told her, went back into town and told everyone she knew what Jesus had said to her.

In today’s reading, the woman gets another mention.

Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this in indeed the Saviour of the world.”

John 4:39-42 (ESV)

A few believed because of what the woman said. Even more believed because of what Jesus said.

Many churches these days are filling up fast. Many preach the Word of God, but sadly, many do not. There are pulpits filled with fancy words coming from eloquent preachers, but the words belong to man, not God. Man’s words may make believers, but God’s words make disciples.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)

In order for people to hear God’s word, we have to speak God’s word. Put your own voice aside and speak the words that have the power to change lives.

Daily Bible reading: 2 Kings 6-8; John 4:31-54