October 30 I Friday

Jeremiah 20-21

2 Timothy 4

“Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.” —2 Corinthians 4:1

 Ministry is defined as the act of serving. The concept is that someone who ministers is like a middle person, taking from a source and ministering it for the benefit of others. In the Christian life, this does not require a degree in theology or a career in full-time ministry, but simply being who we are, a servant of Christ, with our eyes open to opportunities God gives us to minister to others.

God has chosen to operate in and through His people in order that He may express Himself with the ultimate purpose of bringing life and blessing to others. Paul tells us, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20). As our minds and hearts are captive to Christ, we have divine power to break through the most unexpected lives. This makes the Christian life an extraordinary adventure. We never know what God will do next, and when we live as a worker together with Him, not only does that bring us into a deeper awareness of His presence, but a deeper knowledge and experience of God’s working that will leave us in awe again and again.

Paul writes, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7). Jars of clay are about the most mundane thing, the equivalent of plastic bags in our kitchens. This is what Paul refers to as our bodies so that we do not rely on ourselves. But in our bodies is an all-surpassing power that comes from a sovereign God whose Spirit lives in us. If we miss out on that dimension, we will simply be earthen vessels neglecting, forgetting or not even realizing the unlimited resources we have in the indwelling presence of Christ.

Jesus will put in our path people who are in need and searching for truth. During the course of our everyday lives, often in the most unexpected places, He gives us the privilege of coming into someone’s life at the right time, and it will be a link in the chain that leads them to Christ.

To submit ourselves to Christ’s agenda may seem intimidating, but the reality is that Jesus fills us with His energy, His strength and His love for a world that is in desperate need. We do not lose heart, because in ministering to others, we discover a joy that is incredibly fulfilling, motivating and rewarding. And that joy is solely derived from the presence of Christ working through us.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I cannot imagine a higher calling than to be a worker together with You. Keep me alert to opportunities and make me a vessel that leads others to You. Thank You, Jesus.