Ministry is Service

The word "ministry" in our modern vocabulary has taken on a great deal of religious cultural baggage. Being "in the Ministry" today can mean that you're a member of a recognized clergy group. It can also mean that you work for a religious non-profit organization such as a homeless mission or soup kitchen. It can even mean that you collect millions of dollars, in the name of Jesus, in order to finance your lavish lifestyle. These are the ways that ministry is defined today but if we are going to be biblical about this word ministry, then it has one simple definition...service.

The Object of Our Service

Ultimately no matter who or how we serve, our service is directed toward the Lord. Through the grace of Christ, God has allowed us the privilege of serving him. Not that God needs our service. He is the only truly self sufficient being in existence. Since all things came from him, he is in need of nothing. The privilege of serving God is extended to us for our good. We are most fulfilled as human beings when we are engaged in serving. It's the way were made by our creator.

God, Servant to Creation.

One of the great mysteries of God is that at his heart, God is a servant. When God became a man, he took the form of a servant. This is the form that God choose for his Son in order to reveal the himself to us. It's humbling to consider that the All Mighty God lowered himself to serve us. If Jesus, who had the glory of the Father, lowered himself to the level of a servant, then how can we do any less?

Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.
Phil 2:5-8 (WEB)

Why are we here?

For Christ sent me, not to give baptism, but to be a preacher of the good news: not with wise words, for fear that the cross of Christ might be made of no value. 1Cor. 1:17

Paul certainly had focus. He had a laser sharp focus. We believers get so obsessed about baptism, communion and the right way to do church that we lose of our central mission. We are here to announce the good news to the poor, to bring healing to the broken and recovery of sight to the blind.
Now that Easter is past are you getting ready for Pentecost? Let's ask the Jesus to refresh us with His Holy Spirit and set us ablaze with a passion to bring the great news to the world.
Don't worry if you don't have a lot of fancy words, the cross speaks for itself.

The Word Made Flesh

He could have remained far above us in his holy heaven. Angels attend him and perfection surrounds him, but he did not remain removed and aloof; God came down to us. In fact, he actually became one of us. He shared in our pain, our sweat, our grime.

He could have written us off. He could have decided we were not worth the effort. If we destroyed each other, that was our problem. Love compelled him. Love could not sit idle while humanity continued it's steady slide into self destruction. Love had to intervene.

He could have just sent us a bible and left it at that, but that would not do. He could have sent an angel or a prophet but he did more than that; he came in person. He did not want to just tell us the message of salvation he decided to be our salvation. He wanted us to see, feel and know clearly that he loves us and wants us to be with him.

Behold, the Word made flesh. God among us.