What a Ministry

"And all of this is a gift from God,

who brought us back to himself through Christ.

And God has given us this task

of reconciling people to him."

2 Corinthians 5:18 NLT

Church people often talk about their ministries.  Feeding the hungry, discipling new believers, teaching children, working with youth, all important to be sure.  We get quite passionate about our particular ministry and often get quite involved.  But there is one ministry we all share, and none are exempt from this task.  In fact, it is perhaps the most important ministry of the Church.

Reconciliation.  Sin separates mankind from God.  A gulf has formed between the holy and the profane.  None can get to the One who loves perfectly and completely.  Even though I want to be a friend, my sin makes me an enemy of God (Romans 5:10).  How can I reach Him who makes all things right, who fulfills, who satisfies that longing in my soul?  Jesus.  He bridges the gap between man and God.  His death on the cross paid the debt God requires for my sin, and through faith and repentance I am reconciled with God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Sin separates.  Jesus reconciles.  What a wonderful message, a message that saved me from certain death, gave me hope for eternity and peace for today.  How can I keep this to myself?  All need to hear, and it is through His own that they will hear.  It is time I stop being stingy and start speaking freely of the saving news that is found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

All believers are included in the ministry of reconciliation, where God graciously and kindly offered His Son as a sacrifice to bridge the gap between sinful mankind and His holy self.

Conduit.  It really doesn't do anything.  It's best feature is that it stays pliable and ready to be pulled around wherever it is needed.  While it seems the life-giving water comes from it, the liquid that brings life actually comes from a source that is unseen.  Without my hose, I'd have a hard time watering my garden and flower pots.

In the same way that my garden hose is a conduit that delivers water to where its needed, I am a mouthpiece for Christ to pass on His plea to "Come back to God!"  (2 Corinthians 5:20)  Its not that He needs me, because He does not (Psalm 50:7-13, Daniel 4:35).  For some reason, though, He chooses to use His people to speak on His behalf.  What a privilege to be a part of God at work among His image bearers, bringing the life-giving message to a world that is parched and thirsty.  Let none shrink back from such a joy!

All believers are conduits of grace and the only prerequisite for such a ministry is to offer oneself as a pliable and ready spirit.

Passion.  There seems to be a spirit of fear among the Body of Christ.  As ones who are in the world but not of it, believers operate under a different set of rules with different weapons, reasoning that comes straight from the Holy Spirit to pierce the conscience and tear down the soundest of arguments (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).  Yet, its easy to be deceived into thinking my ability to share the Gospel is based on my own knowledge of scripture, my ability to recall the right truth at the right time, or the strength and shrewdness of my approach.

Instead, this ministry that we've been given is supernaturally powered by God's Spirit.  While I am Christ's representative, He does not expect me to come up with my own tactics or depend upon my own skills to say the right thing at the right time.  On the contrary, it depends only upon my willingness to let the love of Christ compel me to plead, implore, beg the lost to repent and turn to Christ.  Other times His Spirit may lead me to gently restore, to show mercy, to shine a light on the Way of life.  Only He knows which approach each soul needs, so I must stay sensitive to His lead.  Either way, the love of Christ compels me to do whatever is necessary to save people from God's holy judgment without getting caught up in their sinful lifestyle myself (Jude 1:17-23, Jeremiah 20:9).

All believers have the passion of God's Spirit indwelling, leading each to act as a lifeguard to those who are drowning in sin, offering up Jesus as a ring buoy of sorts who will keep them from being overcome by their transgressions.

I am involved in all kinds of ministries, many of which are powerful and necessary.  But have I ignored the one that all share?  The ministry of reconciliation is one with which each believer is tasked, but I need not fret.  The message that brings life comes through me but originates directly from the heart of God with a passion that I cannot resist.  What a ministry!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to put myself in His hands for His purposes.

How am I resisting God's attempts to speak through me?

When do I let fear cripple me, refusing to share the Good News of reconciliation?

    

The Result of Negligence

"My sons, do not be negligent now,

for the LORD has chosen you to stand 

before him and serve him,

to minister before him and to burn incense."

2 Chronicles 29:11

The Levites had forsaken their temple duties.  As a result, there was nowhere for the people to offer sacrifices and find God's forgiveness.  In response, King Hezekiah exhorted them to return to their calling.

I, too, have forsaken my purpose in many ways.  How can I refresh this calling on my life?  After all, I am chosen for more than this.  

Presence.  He gave up everything to deliver it.  This sacrifice ended with the ultimate giving of Himself.  As if it weren't enough to humble himself to the point of entering into His own creation as a lowly man, He went so far as to offer Himself as the final, perfect sacrifice.  In so doing, the veil that existed between a holy God and the people He loves was permanently torn, offering an opportunity for all to enter into His presence.

Since Jesus went through so much so that I can boldly approach the throne of grace, why do I so often choose to stand alone in life (Hebrews 4:14-16)?  My heart hurts when I am tossed aside as if I don't matter, treated like dirt or trampled on.  Instead of casting all my burdens upon Him, I attempt to carry them myself (1 Peter 5:6-7).  

Sometimes I feel so unworthy, noticing all the ways I fall short and thinking that defines me.  As a result, I tend to avoid the God who treasures the bond we share, turning away from His piercing eyes.  When I do so, I am forgetting how the blood of Jesus transforms my identity into a forgiven child who is always welcomed by my heavenly Father, no matter how I feel (Isaiah 1:18,1 John 3:1, John 1:12).

Other times I buy into the idea that God helps me only if I make a sincere effort to solve my own problems, work toward my own deliverance, or attempt to provide for myself (Psalm 46:1).  Unfortunately, I end up minimizing the sacrifice Jesus made in order to deliver me into His kingdom where I have a Father who has a plan for my life, is powerful enough to save me from any danger, and is faithful to give me all that I need (Jeremiah 29:11,Psalm 46:1,Matthew 6:31-33).

When I'm negligent in my calling as a precious child of God, I miss out on all the benefits of dwelling in His presence.

Minister.  He came not to condemn, but to save the world (John 3:17).  He was drawn to the weak, the overlooked, the forgotten (John 5:1-9, Luke 8:43-48).  His love drove Him to reach out to those society shunned (Luke 19:1-10, Matthew 8:1-4).

As one who is saved from certain death and ushered into an eternal kingdom by the blood of Jesus, I am called to do the same as my namesake (John 14:12-14).  Through Jesus, I see those the world walks on by.  Instead of joining in, I stop and take notice, showing love to the homeless man digging through the garbage, or the child abandoned by his parents, or the elderly wasting away in a forgotten corner of the home.  Because of Jesus in me, I am drawn to the hurting, going toward the pain and advancing when everyone else retreats.

When I am negligent in my calling to love, I rob the world of the compassion and charity of God it so desperately needs.

Offerings.  "Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me."  I've heard this saying enough to take on the meaning behind it as the gospel truth.  In fact, if I've lived in the world for any amount of time, I realize this is its mantra.  Forgiveness is a rare commodity in such an environment.

While the world says to guard myself against others' behavior, Jesus taught the opposite.  In His economy, extending mercy is more important than protecting my rights.  Offering forgiveness surpasses the tendency to guard against being taken advantage of.  Showing grace is better than sticking up for myself.

Sometimes, I am the conduit through which the forgiveness of God flows into the cold, hard world.  If I fail to forgive as I have been forgiven, my neighbor may never taste such a rarity.  If I don't let go of the way I've been hurt, my accuser may never experience the kindness of God which is so foreign to him.  If I insist on standing up for myself, my opponent may never see what it's like to be accepted right where she is, in the middle of her sin.

When I am negligent in my calling to forgive, I fail to model the mercy and grace on which I depend.

In the same way that the Levites negligence effected the entire nation of Judah, my own disregard for my calling as a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ has a ripple effect on myself and those around me.  When I fail to dwell in God's presence, minister to a hurting world, and provide offerings of God's mercy and grace, the consequences are far-reaching.  I am called to more than just an existence.  I am called to be Jesus to a world who needs Him.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can dwell in God's presence.

When do I attempt to do things in my own strength instead of letting God provide what I need?

How do I withhold the very grace and mercy upon which I depend?

Joy

"And see, now I go bound in the Spirit to Jerusalem,

not knowing the things that will happen to me there,

except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city,

saying that chains and tribulations await me.

But none of these things move me;

nor do I count my life dear to myself,

so that I may finish my race with joy,

and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus,

to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."

Acts 20:22-24 NKJV

Birds flit outside my window, fluttering here and there throughout the tree in front of my house. Their happy songs float through the closed window where the cat sits as a hunter stalking his prey, tail flitting back and forth and chattering his excitement.  Watching the scene play out before me, I think that the Lord must be pleased seeing His creation doing what He created them to do.  They are living according to His plan for their lives.

I can please the Lord in the same way, by doing what He created me to do.  Each of us has a calling in this life; a specific ministry in which He has invited us to take part in.  Whatever that service happens to be, there are certain virtues which identify us as followers of Christ as opposed to a person doing good things for others out of human compassion.  

What sets us apart from the rest of the world?

Clothing

Many jobs require a certain dress code specific to the task required of the profession.  Medical personnel don white coats or scrubs, mechanics wear coveralls while police officers sport uniforms complete with badges and holsters.  

Ministry is no different.  God calls us to a certain line of service within our regular lives, but each of us is instructed to put on the same attire.  "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." (Colossians 3:12) 

Just as a uniform is usually supplied by the employer, so these virtues come from God as a result of submitting myself to Him.  Unlike the cat who naturally behaves in the way God created him to behave, I have the problem of sin to contend with.  

Either I can follow my sinful nature and act according to what comes naturally, or I can submit myself to God and let Him have His way in each situation.  When I let Him win out, the fruit of the Spirit develops, setting me apart from the rest of the world.

So when the doctor's office personnel inadvertently drop my appointment, frustration rises within me.  Then humility calls me to apologize for my huffy attitude, thus displaying the gospel through my actions.

I am set apart as a follower of Christ in the uniform I wear.

Manner

I live in a harsh, unforgiving world.  Garrison Keillor, host of The Prairie Home Companion, said, "What else will do except faith in such a cynical, corrupt time?  When the country goes temporarily to the dogs, cats must learn to be circumspect, walk on fences, sleep in trees, and have faith that all this woofing is not the last word."  

Just as cats know how to get around and live their lives as felines despite the presence of vicious canines, Christians need not become like the world in order to fit in.  Instead, I can work to forgive and let go of hurts in order that God be glorified.

For instance, if my focus is on defending my own rights, I will constantly be taking up for myself when someone steps on my toes or offends my liberties.  But if I take on the attitude like that of Christ Jesus, I will let offenses go, pardoning others' actions just as God forgave me.  

Carrying an unforgiving attitude shows how little I understand how much God forgave me.  He has pardoned me of all of my sins: past, present and future. 

The merciful attitude I carry through life is one of the greatest testimonies of God's forgiveness.  The apostle Paul exhorts me to, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."  (Ephesians 4:32)

I am set apart as a follower of Christ in the manner I bear.

Glue

I remember a worship song from the 70's based on John 13:35 called, "They will Know We are Christians by our Love."  It talks about our unity as believers and how our hallmark is to be love.  

Observing the state of the church today, I'm not sure I see much love as we fight over the color of the carpet in the sanctuary and the way the money should be spent.  These quarrels happen when I put my own interests above those of my brothers and sisters.  

To understand love, I can look to 1 Corinthians 13 where it tells me:

"Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.

Love doesn't strut,

Doesn't have a swelled head,

Doesn't force itself on others,

Isn't always 'me first,'

Doesn't fly off the handle,

Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn't revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end."

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 MSG

This love that comes from God is the glue that holds the whole package of my Christian life together.  

I am set apart as a follower of Christ in the glue that binds these virtues together in perfect unity and shows that God cares.

Joy comes not from living a life free from difficulties, but by living as God created me to live.  He calls me into a ministry where I must clothes myself with His uniform, exhibit a manner like the attitude of Jesus, and bind it all together with love.  

This is what pleases my Father in heaven and brings joy to my heart!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will remember to put on my uniform.

When do I tend to slip into an attitude of self-preservation or defending myself instead of forgiveness?

How often do things fall apart because I forgot to use the glue of love to hold it all together?