But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. 1 Samuel 12:24 NIV
Are all Christians ministers? We may be asked this often, as we encourage others and plant the seed of the word effectively. The simple answer is yes. According to Oxford dictionary, to minister is to “attend to the needs of someone” or in other words – to serve. All Christians should be servants, and as we serve we minister. Amen!
Paul gives us some insight to being a good servant as he cites Christ as our example – it is written :
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Philippians 2:3-8 NIV
Christ himself came to serve. He said:
“For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.” Luke 22:27 NIV
Jesus always sets the example.
Why are we really here? We are here to serve God, and by serving others we serve him.
As the time for Jesus departure was upon him, he further set the example.
The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. John 13:2-5 NIV
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” John 13:12-17 NIV
Our Lord knew he was leaving us, and wanted to leave us with servitude in our hearts.
What better way to honor HIM then to encourage, plant, and serve.
Praise him always and remember to Encourage and Love one another always.
Barnabas
Special thanks to Barnabas for this guest submission.