When it comes to our book marketing efforts, Jesus makes several encouraging statements. (Mark 8:1-8)
“I have compassion for you.”
“You are with me.”
“You are hungry.”
“You are weak.”
“You have come a long way.”
Let’s explore how these five statements can lead to an expanded area of influence for us, an enlarged sales territory, and an abundant harvest, not for our benefit, but for his.
“I have compassion for you.” We do not need to beg Jesus to bless our books, our writing, our ministry of speaking, teaching, and preaching. He feels for us. He is sensitive to our circumstances. He is concerned for us. Because Jesus cares for our welfare, physical and spiritual health, and vocation, our Father in heaven is eager to give good things to them that ask. (Matthew 7:11)
“You are with me.” We can do a great many things on our own, but when we are with Jesus and in our Father’s will, we can do even greater things than Jesus. (John 14:12-14) Jesus said to his disciples, “You are in me, and I am in you.” (John 14:20) “In that day (when we see Jesus in his risen-from-the-grave glory) you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”
What a tremendous promise and blessing! Jesus wants your books to sell. He desires that your influence for him grows. Our task is to make sure our hands and thoughts remain clean and pure, that there is nothing in our past or present that will diminish his glory by our actions. If there is anything in your past that needs to be confessed, healed, and cleaned, bring it to Jesus.
“You are hungry.” Those who are full and satisfied may not feel the urgency that comes with hunger. We do. We crave God’s blessings, his power, his purpose in our lives, his anointing. Those who are empty can and will be filled to fullness, pressed, shaken down, and running over into soaked laps. If you’re hungry for success, prepare to be blessed.
“You are weak.” The weak are blessed. God works miracles through those who are weak. “I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10) Our help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121)
No social media presence? No problem for God. His presence is with you.
No platform? Our platform is in helping our neighbor.
No agent? God is in the business of connecting us with just the right person at just the right time. (Genesis 24:12-16)
Those who are poor in spirit are blessed. Those too broken-hearted to hope are comforted. In the kingdom of our Father are all the resources we will ever need. (Matthew 5:3)
“You have come a long way.” You have done a lot, written much, tried many things. You are not at the beginning of your writing journey but far along the path. You have put in the hours to improve your craft, learned from others, and built relationships with established authors, agents and editors. You have invested much.
But what have you harvested?
If we have planted much, but harvested little. (Haggai 1:6), let us check to see if God’s holy temple, our bodies, remain in ruins due to sin. While each of us is busy with our own affairs, we should check to see if we have neglected to spend time with our Father. (Haggai 1:9)
We have come a long way. Let us come further and fall into the arms of Jesus. Let him cleanse us. Let him teach us. Let him guide us. Let him love us. Let him lead us.
Then expect the seed you’ve sown to produce a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was scattered. (Matthew 13:8) This is book marketing Jesus’ way.
Believe and be blessed!