Ministry of the Saints

    As I've talked about many times before, it is the job of all of us who claim to follow Jesus to proclaim His gospel to the world. Granted, that looks different in each of our lives. Some of us will be pastors and missionaries and some of us will just proclaim Him in our workplace, the gym, or wherever life takes us. All are equally important. However, the experience of ministry is very much the same for us no matter the context. We will find that as we draw nearer to Jesus and are able to minister to others more effectively, our relationships change quite significantly. 

    In ministry, people will walk in and out of your life as they themselves battle sin and darkness. When they are ready for some light, they will come to you, but as soon as they are tempted by sin they are no where to be found. Such is human nature and very common when one starts off a relationship with Jesus. If you are in the ministry position you have to learn to be okay with that. You also have to learn that those people are not "equally yoked" with you and cannot offer the same things you can in a relationship. 

    It is important to maintain that perspective when ministering to others, and also to recognize the need of relationships that are equally yoked. We need friends who are in the same place we are spiritually so that we may encourage one another and count on each other. Iron sharpens iron! It is essential to have people around you who can build you up when the world wears you down. Remember that you can't be in ministry without both types of relationships at work in your life and it is crucial to recognize the difference. 

Romans 10:13-14 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (ESV)

2 Corinthians 5:18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation (ESV)

2 Corinthians 3:4-6 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (ESV)

Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. (ESV)

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (ESV)

Romans 1:11-12 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. (NIV)