My Grandmother had a hand crank phone that was on a party line. If no one answered, they were not home.
Then there was the wall-mounted rotary phone. One line per person, no more ease dropping. If no one answered, they were not home.
Then there were answering machines. Small machines that used a cassette tape to record your greeting and another tape to record your message. If no one answered, no one was home.
The cassette tapes were eventually replaced by small memory devices that did the same thing.
Then the phone company offered their answering service. If no one was home, you left a message.
Today, leaving a voice mail is common. But if the number is no longer in service or if their mailbox isn't set up, what do people do now? I've seen everything from raw anger to absolute panic. Our society is so connected that if one connection doesn't work, the earth must have slipped off its axis. Here's an idea, their not home. It's ok.
What's my point?
1 Chronicles 12:32 Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command.
Times change. Understanding that change is critical to present the good news about Jesus to others. How would you relate to someone who had never heard the name of Jesus, much less knew what a church was? How would you talk to someone who had been part of a cult and thought that all churches were that way? How would you relate to someone who had been raised in a church, but had given up all hope of ever being a follower of Jesus?
PRAY: Dear Jesus, help me to see the people who need me and help me relate to them. AMEN
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