When we imitate God and are rewarded with His wisdom, we are also given tasks to complete to expand His kingdom. This daily devotional reviews what ministry is and isn’t, giving examples of Jesus’ and others’ ministries.
Devotions in the Self-Discipline Review series
All year, we’ve been looking at self-discipline. We looked at self-discipline as the operational plan for self-control because it talked about improvement.
We are reviewing everything and hopefully putting all of the building blocks together. What I am doing is going through all of the devotions for the year and pulling out the nuggets.
I am formatting this as a glossary page. If I already have one, I will combine them later.
We all have a ministry. We all have a purpose in God’s kingdom. We have been given gifts to use to expand that kingdom.
But how many times do we seek God just for ourselves? (Hence the “oh, I don’t have a ministry!”) (Expectations of a Steward).
What Is Ministry?
God wants us to be His messengers. No, He really doesn’t need us for anything. He wants us to be involved in His ministry (How Are God’s Messengers Supposed to Respond?).
God knows what He has called us to do to expand His kingdom. That is what requires our diligence — our ministry (What Is Diligence?).
God expects us to plan our ministry for Him. Yes, some opportunities for witnessing are going to drop into our laps. But we have to be ready for them. That is why we are doing the What I Believe series. We have to know what we believe and be secure in those beliefs before we can witness to someone else (Putting Feet to the Plan of Salvation).
God doesn’t call us all to the same ministry or give us the same abilities. Oh, yes. We are all called to witness for Him. We do that in different ways. Some are preachers, some singers, some teachers, etc. We are all given different gifts — and different levels of gifts (Who Can Learn God’s Truth?).
We probably won’t have the ministry that Paul had. We won’t be constantly traveling to foreign lands to spread God’s Word. But we will have our ministry — even if it is to share God’s Word with a coworker. However great or small our ministry will be should have no bearing on us completing the ministry (What Is Evangelism?).
I think sometimes we think that God is going to call us to do something and throw us in the deep end before we know how to swim. Not. Going. To. Happen. God isn’t in the business of setting us up to fail. God is in the salvation business. He needs us to do our part so that His kingdom is expanded (What Is Evangelism?).
- Our ministry should not promote division. This is added when we are praying for each other. Their prayers for us helps them play a part in our ministry, giving them a vested interest (Asking for Prayers).
- God wants our ministry to encompass our world — wherever He takes us. He wants us to be constantly looking out for the opportunities He opens up for us (Witnessing as God Calls).
- There were probably the good days in the ministry where a number of people made a profession of faith. There were those days when Paul was run out of town. There were probably days that were straight travel. In the rain. In the heat. In the cold. Paul and his merry men probably had to sleep on the side of the road a time or two. They may have gotten sick and tired of eating whatever their staple was. Paul still boasted about God (Witnessing as God Calls).
- We can only accomplish the ministry to which God has called us by being anointed by the Holy Spirit. We can’t do that ourselves (Spiritual Freedom).
What Ministry Isn’t
The false teachers twisted God’s Word to suit their purposes. We have to watch and make sure that we are not in the clutches of a false teacher. We have to diligently examine what we are told to make sure it mirrors what is in Scriptures (Living in God’s Truth).
When God calls us to our ministry, there will be things that we have to give up. One may be family or close friends (Why God Calls Us to Give Up Everything).
Jesus’ Ministry
- Jesus spent His ministry talking about His kingdom (Conversations with a King).
- Jesus’ whole ministry spoke to accomplishing the fulfillment of Scriptures in a holy and righteous way. He never deviated from what He said and how He acted. He came to deliver us from the consequences of our sins (Fulfilling Scriptures).
- Jesus’ ministry begins with healing, liberty, illumination, and comfort for all — it doesn’t end there. During the three years of His ministry, Jesus interacted with many people. While He met some of their basic needs, He made it clear that He was there to interact with them for spiritual reasons (Fulfilling Scriptures).
- Jesus thought it was perfectly fine to be married and be in ministry. In fact, He told the Pharisees that marriage should be a life-time commitment between a man and a woman (Mk. 10: 5-9) (A Sin and Dying World).
- Jesus knew that we would have to revisit some lessons over and over. Let’s face it. His ministry was only three years long. He had a lot of ground to cover and a short time to get there. While He constantly had audiences of people who had never heard the gospel story, He didn’t have time for some repetition (Learning about Jesus from the Holy Spirit).
- Society used to be a patriarchal society. Women were restricted to roles within the home and family. Jesus, however, elevated women to be equals. No, He didn’t revamp societal structure. He did include them in His kingdom and in His ministry (In Support of Widows).
- Jesus was all about life — eternal life. But He was also about engaging us in the ministry to expand His kingdom. Yes, it is all about our individual relationships with God. As we navigate the Sanctification Road, we grow as we witness to others. It helps us solidify our beliefs (Why God Calls Us to Give Up Everything).
- Mary’s goal was to raise Jesus so He could be self-supporting. His self-supporting, though, was all tied up in His ministry (Respect from the Cross).
Examples of Ministry
Jesus is in intense pain, feeling His life leave His body, and He is concerned about Mary. That is love. But that was Jesus’ ministry, also. He came for us — all of us. Not just His immediate family. Not for His friends. Not even just for the Jews (Respect from the Cross).
Paul went through a lot of trials while called to his ministry. “Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches” (II Cor. 11: 23-28 NLT). Yep, Paul had to have dedication and longsuffering (How Does Longsuffering Help Consistency?; How Does Dedication Help Consistency?).
Paul knew that we were all in this together. It is going to take all of us doing our parts. Even though others might not be physically present to take part in the mission, they can join the ministry through prayer (Asking for Prayers).
Paul didn’t do anything by halves. He was totally dedicated to his ministry of proclaiming the gospel. He started soon after his conversion and labored, I’m sure, until the day he died (Witnessing as God Calls).
Paul’s ministry wasn’t something in which he just dabbled. He was a warrior (The Depth and Height of Christ’s Love).
It is our ministry as disciples to help non-believers open the eyes of their hearts. They need to see their prison before they no longer have the opportunity to choose God (Spiritual Freedom).
Father God. We are humbled that You have given us ministries of our own. You use us to expand Your kingdom. Help us to faithfully follow You in all that You call us to do. Amen.
What do you think?
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