What does the word ministry mean to you?
For years, I have placed the word ministry on a pedestal held for those in front of a congregation or those who have been ‘called’ to share the gospel with unreached people. I have created a narrow and honestly, an unbiblical idea of the word ministry.
Again and again we see ministry in scripture. Acts 20:24 says
“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God”.
In Greek, the word used for ‘ministry’ is essentially the same word used for ‘serving tables’. If I think of ministry simply as a selfless act to serve someone or complete a task given by someone, my perspective of it changes.
Wesly, one of our hosts spends a lot of his time traveling hours to indigenous villages that speak a language called Pokomchi. The Bible is still in the process of being accessible to these people. On Sunday, we went with him. We got to worship, share scripture, and pray for four adults and roughly fifteen children in that village. God reminded me that he left the 99 for the 1, and so shall we.
Ministry can look different. It can be giving a cup of warm coffee. It can be praying for someone from a distance who does not want prayer. It can be taking care of my ministry host’s children. It can be listening to people who have been deeply hurt. It can be giving flowers away at the market. It can be fast paced. It can be slow paced. It comes in all forms.
Do you know those people at your church, in your family, or even your workplace that do an abundance of work selflessly behind the scenes? They are not in the front where everyone can see them or acknowledge them. We cannot discount this type of work as it is valuable and works for the greater good.
We are in no need to rush the work that God is doing. We can be present and expectant of the spirit to lead us. With that said, I do not want to diminish the importance of walking our journeys with a sense of urgency. It is the way Jesus discipled others, right?
Ephesians 5:15,16 says, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”
Does this also mean that there is not a distinction between the type of ministry that we do? I believe that proclaiming the word of God is of the utmost importance in the service we can do for others.
Imagine the human body as a representation of all of us. We are all different parts that make up the body of Christ. My teammate longs this year to find her place in the body of Christ. We shall all do the work God put forth for us in order to glorify God, together build the kingdom and ultimately do the great commission. Ministry in some sense is a calling for all of us.
Thank you Lord for breaking me free of the box I have put ministry in. Whatever it looks like, I will be available. Whatever it looks like, here I am. I am not going anywhere, Lord.
Be well. Love well.
Mags
