How evident is God’s reflection in your life? I once heard a great definition of “ministry” by the concept of this question. Your ministry is only a reflection of God’s work in your life. If no one can see Christ in your life, you have no ministry. If the subject of all of your interactions and conversations is about yourself, you have no ministry.
Philippians 3:8 (NLT) “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ.”
Words like self-esteem hold no importance to a follower of Christ. In fact, all words that involve self should not be associated to a Christian. Selfless is the only true word to describe a Christian. We are called to serve, not be served. The next time you are well-served at a restaurant, remember Christ’s command to His disciples.
John 13:12-17 (NLT) “12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because it is true. 14 And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 How true it is that a servant is not greater than the master. Nor are messengers more important than the one who sends them. 17 You know these things – now do them!” — That is the path of blessing!
Corporate worship can be an obvious reflection of the spiritual condition of the church. A healthy church is not reflected by the number of attendees, but by the brokenness of its worshipers. A broken worshiper recognizes his/her worth and cannot contain their thankfulness for our Lord’s unfailing love. It is in our brokenness, our weakness, He is strong.
Holy Father, Help me to see that it is in my brokenness You are made strong and my greatest ministry flows from it. Amen.
(Taken from a devotion written March 6, 2006)