When we hear the word ministry, we immediately think of a preacher, someone standing before a congregation sharing the Word of God. But ministry is more than preaching. Ministry should be a part of our everyday lives as a Christians. Jesus spoke to the crowd in Mark 16:15 “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Then he ascended. The disciples went and preached the gospel to the world. But was it just preaching? In Acts we see that there was also other types of ministry. There was daily prayer, daily sharing of meals. In Acts chapter 7, we can read that the twelve chose seven men to minister to the needs of people, serving tables in the daily ministration so they could just pray and minister the word. They appointed those men to minister to needs.
We walk daily among people who have needs. We can daily be a
light and meet a need. We can be the one to minister to those needs. We can be
used to meet the needs of people one on one. Do you know a family who needs
prayer or a meal? Do you know of a
senior who just needs someone to check on them or talk with them? Do you know a
young mother that may need reassurance that she is doing a good job or someone
to hold her baby for a moment so she can eat and shower? These are all moments
of ministry. When often think of ministry as big acts that have immediate results
of souls being saved, but there are also small acts of ministry that are often
overlooked. We cannot overlook those small things that minister to people and
often show them that God loves them even in the mundane and overwhelming parts
of life. I know for myself, I remember those small things people have spoken to
me or have done for me that really mattered in the moment. As a young mom, I
needed to hear that lady in the store who came by and gently said, “You are
doing a great job. You got this.” That meant the world to me. I also remember
those who have called or prayed with me when I needed it. It may have been a
small thing, but it mattered to me.
John 15:12 says “This is my commandment, That ye love one
another, as I have loved you.” We are
commanded to love one another. That includes caring about each other enough to
notice we need encouragement, we need support, we need to hear about God’s love
for us and feel his love from one another. There is a saying that no one will care
what you have to say until they know you care about them. If we are to reach a
soul, we need to care for them and show them the love of God in action. Souls are
won by caring for them. Souls are kept by continual care.
Jesus often used shepherds to show and describe ministry. A
shepherd continually watches and cares for the herd. He doesn’t just see a lamb
born and then leave it to figure out how to survive. He cares for it. He makes
sure it is in the right places to eat, and ensures it’s safety. There is a daily,
continual interaction between the shepherd and the sheep that provides for the
sheep. The sheep are protected, provided for and cared for. We need to consider
that as part of ministry. We are called
into the body. We are all a part of the Body of Christ. Each member with a
purpose. Each of us have a calling to unity in the body. We are all able to care
for one another, pray for one another, and reach out to one another.
Ministry should be our lifestyle. In this world, we have distractions. Even good
things can distract us from opportunities to minister. We need to be diligent
to be ready always in season and out of season, to minister to a needy soul. It
may be praying for someone or bringing a meal. It may be a phone call to check
on their wellbeing. It may be visiting someone in the hospital. It may be
sitting with someone and just being there. It is all ministry. That is the
gospel being lived out. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we
should walk in them.” Let us walk in the
good works he has for us. Don’t be afraid to care and share. Be willing to
minister to the needs of those around you. It doesn’t have to be big, it will
matter to the one who needs it.
