The value of ministering like Jesus

Ministry is a calling, not an office. This calling is spiritual in nature, never carnal; it is divine, never earthly. He chose me first and then called me to minister. It is a privilege, not an imposition. We have been called to serve the Lord. "But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his wonderful grace" (Ga 1.15). What did God call us to do but to serve him?

Our calling is to be ministers of Jesus Christ and that concerns all of us who have received salvation by grace through faith. The identity of the Christian is manifested in the service that naturally flows from the love of God in our hearts to minister to him and minister to the needs of others, whether they are believers or not.

Irish politician and philosopher Edmund Burke said in the 18th century: "All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." Taking this thought to the purely spiritual context we could paraphrase it as follows. "The only thing the devil needs to get away with it is for the men of God to remain with their arms crossed."

Christians are called to serve; It is not an option. In some book that I do not remember its title, I read that the word minister was attributed to the rowers of the ancient galleons who, chained, moved those enormous ships through the seas with the force of their arms. The illustration cannot be better. A minister is like a rower who is "chained" to Christ, a servant who works because he understands that obedience to divine plans is the work of God's grace for the good of others and because he has renounced his own interests to put his life entirely at the feet of the Lord.

The idea of the call to minister (serve) the Lord is repeated over and over again in the Bible. "It was he who saved us and called us with holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time." (2 Timothy 1.9 NASB). Another verse to ponder in ministry to the Lord is the following: "Because the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable." (Ro 11.29). From these two verses we can draw the following conclusion: Jesus saved me and called me to be his minister for his glory (the purpose). This appeal is radical and immutable (it is your sovereign decision and I have no excuses).

The church of Christ needs more the help of good ministers than of new ministries. Good ministries, by our human standards, pass, even much faster than some good ministers. The unfortunate thing is that there are not many good ministers who adhere to divine standards when exercising their ministries.

Let us serve the Lord with joy. We are ministers of the best of ministries. We are all ministers in the body of Christ. Let's say like Joshua “… But I and my house will serve the Lord” (Jos 24:15)

God bless you!