We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 2 Corinthians 6:3-4 NIV
To minister is, “to attend to the needs of someone.”
Throughout the Bible, ministry is a very common theme. The last three years of Jesus life are referred to as His ministry. If we are called to be Christ-like, does that not call for all of us to minister.
Jesus said:
“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”” Matthew 20:26-28 NIV
We are here on earth to serve God. If that hasn’t been your focus so far, it’s not too late. Just ask and you can be made a new creation; your life can have purpose and meaning. Just as Christ spent his time in ministry, to aspire to be Christ-like calls for us to minister daily.
Paul wrote:
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. Ephesians 4:11-12 NIV
Christ spent his life in ministry, serving and teaching others how to glorify God by example.
This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. 1 Corinthians 4:1 NIV
The word of God clearly calls for us to serve -to minister. Let us give thought to some ways of building the following into our servitude every day.
Encourage others always.
Plant the seed of the Word whenever possible.
Serve God by serving others.
Let our hearts be content with servitude, and may we all be ministers every day.
We know the Way….
Barnabas