Receiving the Correct Signals
by Malcolm Wood
In recent years satellite dishes have become a very familiar sight and used all around the world to receive satellite communication, be it visual, audio or data.
There are numerous satellites in space above the earth transmitting many thousands of signals, beaming them down at the earth. The satellite dish is designed to receive these signals. The purposes of these signals are varied, some good and some not so good and not all of them capable of bringing the News or our favourite TV programme to our living room.
As the signals are passed from the dish, electronic circuitry filters out the unwanted signals and enables the television to display the programme of our choice.
Like satellite dishes we are capable or receiving ‘messages’ from all around us, via our eyes, our ears and our spirits. Many messages are ‘beamed’ at us every day from one source or another – from what we watch, what we listen to, what we read, and who we talk to. Not all these messages are good or helpful to us.
We need to be able to ‘filter out’ those messages that are not helpful and concentrate on those which are. How shall we know the difference?
As we develop a closer relationship with the Lord and grow to know Him better and become more familiar with His Word and seek the gift of discernment, we shall be more able to identify those things which are pleasing to Him and those which are not.
Like the satellite dish we always need to be aimed in the right direction to receive the correct signals i.e. we have to be looking to and listening to the Lord.
Also the dish has to be secure. At home our satellite dish must be loose because in a strong wind we receive a very distorted picture and sometimes lose the signal altogether. The lesson for us here is to make certain that we are standing secure in Him, so that, in whatever comes against us, not only are we able to receive the correct signal from Him, but we are also able to display the right undistorted image to benefit others.
‘So if you think you are standing firm be careful that you don’t fall.’ 1 Corinthians 10:12).
Malcolm Wood and his wife Anna became part of the Ellel family as House Managers at Ellel Grange in 1990. Since then they have been involved with many aspects of the developing Ministry. From 2001 until 2015 they were Directors of Ellel Scotland where they hosted several International Schools and Operation Blairmore and helped pioneer the exciting Creative Inspiration Weeks. They have three sons.
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