Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Ministry

*Once again a little preview of last night's Bright Lights lesson*

As we grow in our walks with the Lord we will desire to serve Him as an outflow of this love we have for Him.  This is ministry.

"By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."
John 15:8

When we hear the word ministry what do we usually think of?  I know some of my first thoughts include helping orphans, being a pastor in a church, evangelizing in foreign countries, etc.  But in reality ministry begins in the heart.  As we draw closer to Jesus and He becomes a reality in our life, we naturally want others to draw close to Him too.

So, how do we find a ministry to be involved in?  Actually, I firmly believe that God will bring a ministry to us.  Each of us have unique talents and gifts so each of the ministries God calls us to will be different.  But there is one area of ministering that we all can be involved in and that is our families.  Now, this ministry may not be viewed by others as a valid ministry, but I don't think they're right.  When the world sees brothers and sisters loving each other or children honoring and obeying their parents you are being ministers to them.  I would say the the home is the training ground for future ministry opportunities.  Home is where character is developed and where the attitudes of our hearts are truly revealed.  It is the proving ground so-to-speak.

It is important to remember that no ministry that the Lord calls you to is big or small compared to what someone else is involved in.  

"Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?  I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.  So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.  Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.  According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.  For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
1 Corinthians 3:5-11

What a good reminder from Paul (or rather, from the Lord)!  A ministry must have Jesus Christ as the foundation.  If He is not there then we're simply building a house on sand.  We must ask God to show us the ministry He wants us involved in.

One last thing to remember is that we cannot properly minister for God in our own strength.  He gives us a ministry and He gives us the strength to minister.

"For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.  And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."
Galatians 6:8-10 

If we do become weary while doing good I think we should check our hearts and see if possibly we've taken the reigns from God (it is so easy to do that, you know...sometimes it happens without realizing it).  It truly is simple- simply sit back and relax while He guides us along the narrow way-it is just difficult to allow Him to have access to all of us/me!

Have a great week!
Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah

1 comment:

  1. This was a great blessing to me! Thank you Hannah for allowing yourself to be used by The Lord!
    Love ya!
    Taylor

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