Ever feel a need to have a defined ministry? Most Christians that I know seem to have that need. Almost every person, Christian or not, wants a defined purpose, a definitive compass that points them in a specific direction with a clear directive. Can I admit that I don't know tons of people who seem to have perfected that ideal?
Last year, there was a lot of transformation in my life and lots of change. During that time, God really began to bring to light what His Word has to say about the ministries in my life and what those should look like. I think some of that had to do with the fact that I'm one of those people who really need to feel like I'm being purposeful.
But then I began to notice that in God's Word there is rarely anyone running around looking for ministry or trying super hard to make "church" happen....except the Pharisees.
The heros of the faith weren't searching out fifteen ways to serve or signing up for committees at their local church building. (I'd like to point out that they didn't spend 100's of thousands on a church building to house the lists, either.) I couldn't find a single instance in the Bible where there was a list in the kiosk to notate who wanted to do what or who was bringing what to the next get-together.
Now, I'm not saying those lists in and of themselves are bad things. They aren't. What I'm suggesting is that maybe we're a little more churchy in our ministries than God intends for us to be. Maybe our ministries, our purpose, are the things God has placed right in front of our faces. Maybe we're so busy looking for ministries that we're missing the Christ opportunities that are right in front of us.
So, I started praying and asking God to show me what ministries HE has for me. What is my purpose, Lord? He answered me very clearly:
My ministry is the four lives He allowed me to bring into this world. My purpose is the marriage covenant that I have entered into with my husband. My purpose is to serve my family with joy and purpose and love.
My ministry is to uplift the precious friends He's brought into my life over the last year. It's to be real with them and encourage them in their walk and love them right where they are today, while encouraging them to love Jesus and always keep Him as their first love.
My purpose is to pray. Pray for my children, their future spouses (if they decide to marry) and my children's friends. I am to pray for my husband and lift him up before the Lord every single day. I am to encourage my friend's in their marriages, with their families and with their prayer life. I am to serve each of these people with joy and humility. I am to walk the path placed before me and make His Word a lamp at my feet to light the path and His voice the one I listen to when I choose to go left or to go right.
I am to pray for my church, its leaders and my church family. I am to open my home to these people and love them. I am to hear them in love and speak to them in love. God love, not people love.
My purpose is to open my eyes and my heart to the ministries that God has already placed all around me. Like that hungry guy standing at the side of the road while I have a take-out bag filled with yummy left overs sitting right there on my leather passenger seat.
"To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away." Mathew 25:29
Noah was not a storm chaser, but built the ark as he was instructed.
Moses did not seek to be a leader or the center of attention, but walked over to the burning bush that stood before him and waited for God to speak.
Paul did not first seek to spread the Good News, he met Jesus on a road trip to Damascus.
Peter, James and John were just running their family fishing businesses when Jesus showed up and said, "Hey, let me show you how to REALLY fish."
David did not fight to become King, he watched his flock with diligence and asked God to create a pure heart within him.
Mary lived her life quietly, in a teeny town that no one else paid much attention to, when the angel of the Lord brought her great news of her child, who was also God Himself.
Our purpose is not to seek purpose. It is to open our eyes, see the ministries and blessings all around us, and submit to God. He'll do the rest. If we do this, we'll find our ministries are plentiful and our boredom, our restless hearts, will settle and be full.
You already HAVE a purpose. You are created in the image of God and He doesn't mess up. You can trust that.
PS....this post is as much as "note-to-self" as anything else. I don't have much figured out, but I'm praying to know better, do better, be better. I'm praying every day for eyes that can see and ears that can hear. Amen.
Last year, there was a lot of transformation in my life and lots of change. During that time, God really began to bring to light what His Word has to say about the ministries in my life and what those should look like. I think some of that had to do with the fact that I'm one of those people who really need to feel like I'm being purposeful.
But then I began to notice that in God's Word there is rarely anyone running around looking for ministry or trying super hard to make "church" happen....except the Pharisees.
The heros of the faith weren't searching out fifteen ways to serve or signing up for committees at their local church building. (I'd like to point out that they didn't spend 100's of thousands on a church building to house the lists, either.) I couldn't find a single instance in the Bible where there was a list in the kiosk to notate who wanted to do what or who was bringing what to the next get-together.
Now, I'm not saying those lists in and of themselves are bad things. They aren't. What I'm suggesting is that maybe we're a little more churchy in our ministries than God intends for us to be. Maybe our ministries, our purpose, are the things God has placed right in front of our faces. Maybe we're so busy looking for ministries that we're missing the Christ opportunities that are right in front of us.
So, I started praying and asking God to show me what ministries HE has for me. What is my purpose, Lord? He answered me very clearly:
My ministry is the four lives He allowed me to bring into this world. My purpose is the marriage covenant that I have entered into with my husband. My purpose is to serve my family with joy and purpose and love.
My ministry is to uplift the precious friends He's brought into my life over the last year. It's to be real with them and encourage them in their walk and love them right where they are today, while encouraging them to love Jesus and always keep Him as their first love.
My purpose is to pray. Pray for my children, their future spouses (if they decide to marry) and my children's friends. I am to pray for my husband and lift him up before the Lord every single day. I am to encourage my friend's in their marriages, with their families and with their prayer life. I am to serve each of these people with joy and humility. I am to walk the path placed before me and make His Word a lamp at my feet to light the path and His voice the one I listen to when I choose to go left or to go right.
I am to pray for my church, its leaders and my church family. I am to open my home to these people and love them. I am to hear them in love and speak to them in love. God love, not people love.
My purpose is to open my eyes and my heart to the ministries that God has already placed all around me. Like that hungry guy standing at the side of the road while I have a take-out bag filled with yummy left overs sitting right there on my leather passenger seat.
"To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away." Mathew 25:29
Noah was not a storm chaser, but built the ark as he was instructed.
Moses did not seek to be a leader or the center of attention, but walked over to the burning bush that stood before him and waited for God to speak.
Paul did not first seek to spread the Good News, he met Jesus on a road trip to Damascus.
Peter, James and John were just running their family fishing businesses when Jesus showed up and said, "Hey, let me show you how to REALLY fish."
David did not fight to become King, he watched his flock with diligence and asked God to create a pure heart within him.
Mary lived her life quietly, in a teeny town that no one else paid much attention to, when the angel of the Lord brought her great news of her child, who was also God Himself.
Our purpose is not to seek purpose. It is to open our eyes, see the ministries and blessings all around us, and submit to God. He'll do the rest. If we do this, we'll find our ministries are plentiful and our boredom, our restless hearts, will settle and be full.
You already HAVE a purpose. You are created in the image of God and He doesn't mess up. You can trust that.
PS....this post is as much as "note-to-self" as anything else. I don't have much figured out, but I'm praying to know better, do better, be better. I'm praying every day for eyes that can see and ears that can hear. Amen.
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