A movie about a speech? Winning Academy Awards? Yup. "Best Movie," "Best Actor" for a movie called "The King's Speech"!
I don't see many movies (my popcorn is much cheaper and I don't like the sticky "cinemuck" on the floor), and I haven't seen this one. But the story's fascinating.
King George VI, handicapped with a stutter, must go on radio to give the speech of his life. Great Britain is going to war, and their king must rally them. Ultimately he is able to say what he needs to say to the people who must hear it - because of the man who gives him the coaching and help he needs.
I'm personally familiar with that story line. Every follower of Jesus should be. Because we've all been positioned by Him to deliver a message from the King of all kings - with all the help we'll need. It's a message people must hear. Because their eternity depends on it.
But we hold back because we're afraid we'll fail, we'll mess it up, or people won't like us. What we're missing is that we're not in this alone. There is Someone who has promised to give us everything we'll need. If we open our mouths.
If you belong to Jesus, the King Himself has given you a life-changing trust. A message to deliver. "God was in Christ, restoring the world to Himself, no longer counting men's sins against them but blotting them out. This is the wonderful message He has given us to tell others. We are Christ's ambassadors..." (2 Corinthians 5:19-20).
Since the eternal destinies of the people around us depend on hearing the King's message, our silence can be for them a silent death sentence. God told me so I would tell them - and I don't. So they may live and die without ever hearing what Jesus did on the cross for them.
As bold as I am speaking on a platform, I know - as most believers do - the fear that keeps us from telling people close to us about our Jesus. But when I do, I experience the wonder of what God promised to a reluctant, inadequate Moses: "I will be with you...Now, go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say" (Exodus 3:11, 4:12).
Often, I've failed to deliver the Message because I was afraid of what might happen to me if I told them. But isn't the greater fear what will happen to them if I don't? "This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves...We're not doing right" (2 Kings 7:9).
The King will go with me. The King will give me the words to say. He's the hand - I'm just the glove.