Ministry Woes Got You Down?
When I was reading the Bible to my kids the other day, we were in John chapter 7. When I read about Jesus’s own brothers not believing in Him, it really stood out to me.
How often do us in the ministry (any kind of ministry) look to others to make us ‘feel’ like we are doing a good job, or the right thing, or even a worth while thing? From personal experience, and from years of being in one type of ministry or another, I would say I am not alone in my neediness and my desire to have others approve what I do for the Lord.
That’s the key… if it is really for the Lord, why do I need the approval or the verbal acceptance of my talents, my gifts, and my ministry to others? Why do we, people in general, have the need to know others are alright with what we are doing?
I think the answer lies in wanting to make everyone happy, all the time. If it is really what God wants, won’t others approve?
NO!
If Jesus was not approved of, what makes us think we will be approved of? Does it really make a difference in whether we will continue to minister?
Sometimes, unfortunately, it can.
What we need to do, is keep our eyes and our minds on what we believe God led us to do, and why He told us to do it. We need to keep in mind that He knew all about the persecution we would face in ministry, and in life in general. He knows first hand all the hurt that can come when our brothers and sisters make light of, make fun of, or even try to tell us how it should be done.
If you are in ministry, and you are in some kind of ministry if you are a Christian, remember Jonh 7:5.
Take it for what it is; God wants to use you, He wants to use your gifts and talents, and He wants to do it in specific ways. If you (and I) are going to let Him use us the way he wants to, and affect the lives He wants to affect through us, we need to decide that it makes no difference if there is any human approval or not. The thing that makes the difference is doing His will, without reservation.
Persecution will come, but Ministry and doing God’s will is stronger- as long as you are doing it in His strength.
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