Ministry Soapbox

I've blogged before about soapboxes.  I am on them constantly.  Maybe it's a symptom of being short.  Who knows?  But I have one that is ongoing that I need to air.  Being in ministry is really the joy, pain and reasonable service of everyone saved by grace.  I love it but it's also a struggle.  The biggest part of the struggle is not being understood and being evaluated without evidence.  No one really knows the intricate and complex problems that arise out of ministry.  And as a believer and one who rallies to the call of giving up our rights in our representing our Lord, sharing them is really counter-productive.  But I'm doing it anyway.

The bottom-line in ministry from the strictly fleshly viewpoint is commitment.  We must be committed to Jesus in all of this.  It's not about what people think, say, or how they respond to me.  However, I must be above board.  I must be all about how I respond to their rants of unknowing.  I cannot scream, "that's not fair" or "how could you say something you know nothing about?".    No, I can only, always be committed to Jesus and responding like Him.

A young person recently shared their thoughts about worship.  In those thoughts was this one statement that was gloriously simple yet profound: "The way we live our lives is a form of worship."  Yes, I know we are representatives of Jesus Christ and our lives are a witness.  But this statement takes it to another level of great responsibility and need for accountability.

My soapbox:  As a believer in the authoritative Word of God, Jesus Christ as the only way to God and the Holy Spirit as our supernatural power in this life, find a church that stands on the Word and be committed to it in every way God has gifted you to be.  You will be misjudged, wronged, talked about and more, and that by believers.  But stay committed, love committed, work committed and pray committed and unceasingly.  God is the mover of mountains.  He will give us the strength as we honor Him in this commitment.

Greatness

"God, grant me greatness without pride.  Grant me greatness without covetousness.   Grant me greatness without selfishness.  Grant me greatness in obscurity.  Grant me greatness without the desire for anything in return.  God grant me greatness out of Your greatness and for Your glory alone.  Only by Your grace, Your power, Your design and Your strength, I pray.  Amen"

"I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."  [Jesus speaking to His disciples about John the Baptist in Luke 7:28.]

Doing Battle With Yourself

As I struggled with all the pressures of life that come from every direction, my thoughts jumped in to torment me, too.  You know the thoughts of pride, selfishness, covetousness,  discontent, inadequacy, and on and on I could go.  I became weak and frustrated, wondering why it all comes at once.  I began to "take my thoughts captive" (2 Corinthians 10:5).  As I did this, another verse popped into my mind: "greater is He Who is in you than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4, KJV)  I've always been encouraged by this verse when battling the enemy of our souls.  But this time, as I thought about it, I realized that "he that is in the world" is also me.

I'm still in the world.  My flesh is not yet redeemed.  My soul is... sure and sound and safe.  But we battle the flesh daily, moment by moment.  We must remember that we, too, can be our own worst enemy.  Well, that's why the other verse says to "take captive every thought".  We do battle with ourselves probably way more than we ever battle others.  Yes, it's hard, oppressing and gives us headaches.  The goal, however, is priceless: to glorify our Father, our Creator, our Savior and our Counselor.  We are going to make it!  It's not optional.  It's wrapped up in supernatural, God-given strength.  God is greater than all our lowest weaknesses and struggles.  He is greater than all oppression, depression, problems and thoughts.  And He has won the battle.  You get that?  We are fighting a battle that's already been won!