* Full-time Ministry

Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.

1st Samuel 12:24 NKJV

I have a great respect for the offices of pastors and elders and apostles and teachers and missionaries and those whose job it is to "run the church." I know the dedication it takes. The sacrifices. The around-the-clock hours. The isolation and sometimes extreme loneliness. You don't get that kind of anointing to fulfill that kind of ministry without a high level of commitment. I honor their ministry and their lives, but this is not to them.

Wow...full-time ministry. Oh, how some long to be in full-time ministry...

How would you define ministry? The dictionary says it is the profession and services of a minister. What is a minister? Well, the dictionary does list member of the clergy as one definition. Another is somebody's agent or representative. Still another definition is a government diplomat ranked under ambassador. What does it mean to minister? First definition - help somebody. Give help to somebody in need. Wait a minute... Aren't we to represent Christ? Aren't we supposed to help others? Doesn't 2nd Corinthians 5:20 say we are ambassadors for Christ? Then we are ministers to the lost and dying world around us!

Every Scripture that instructs us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, to serve Him in truth with all our heart, to do anything - and everything - for Him with ALL that we have, with ALL that we are, with ALL that we possess - none of those qualify the instruction with just only pastors...only elders, no, only apostles and teachers. No, no, no! Deacons and missionaries only.

Is that what it says? Absolutely not - it is directed to ALL of us. Are we alive all the time? Are we breathing all the time? Are we a Christian (all the time)? Then we are in full-time ministry. How are we doing so far?

Prayer:

Father,

          Open our eyes to see Your Word. Open our hearts to the living, breathing part of Your Word. Help us to see we are to be Your hand extended, spreading the Truth of You in word and deed. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

* A Big Help

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.

When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.
Mark 10:13-16 NLT

Anyone who has ever worked in any capacity at a church – especially as a volunteer or over volunteer ministries - knows how difficult it can be to get people to commit to an area; and if you get one or two with true enthusiasm, it’s just this side of a miracle.

One Sunday, we were a few short for our Greeter Ministry. At the time, I was responsible for recruiting volunteers, so I was praying for some big help that morning.

The first one to offer to help turned out to be the best helper I’ve ever had in the Greeter ministry. A three-year-old little boy named Christian. Christian is a live-wire – high energy, strong-willed, and totally committed to whatever he has chosen to do at the moment – no matter what it is. (I’m not sure that’s always a thrill to his mother, but she’s got a good head on her shoulders and her heart is after God, so I have no doubt that Christian will BE a strong Christian as an adult.)

You might wonder what a then 3-year-old could do in the Greeter Ministry besides get in the way… well, you know that verse …a child shall lead them…? I wish you could have seen this little boy in action!

He determined that his job would be to open the door for people so they could enter. Doesn’t sound like too big of a deal, does it? Except Christian didn’t stand more than 30” tall. He’s a little bitty boy but he has a BIG “Yes-I-Can” attitude. He’d push for all he was worth to get that door open and once he got it open, he wanted to just hold it open. Yes, it would have been easier, except that this is Texas and it was July and we can’t stand with the door open…

So, I finally convinced him that we had to wait and watch for people to come up and then open the door when they got close enough. So he put his nose to the glass door and cupped his hands around his eyes like binoculars so he could make sure he saw them. And he was READY! Christian was so little then that sometimes the door pushed back on him and I would have to step up to help him keep it open. And the wonderful thing was, he didn't see that as him not being able to do it, he saw it as teamwork – getting the job done together!

Now, some may have only seen a little guy – “technically” too little to help – but that didn’t stop him. Some may have only seen fingerprints and nose prints on the glass, but I saw a mighty man of God in the making. 

Oh, that we could all be like Christian when it comes to working for the Lord! Yes, I can do it, Lord! No, it’s not too hard. If You asked me to do it, it doesn't matter how big it is or how big I’m not!  Be a doorkeeper? You bet, God! I can do that! I’ll actively watch for them and usher them into Your house. I am well able and if I need help, I know You will help me or send someone to be a helper.

Where can you be a big help?

Prayer:

Father,
        Thank You for loving us enough to teach us and to remind us that anything and everything that is done for You or in Your Name is worth doing well and with enthusiasm. Let us not forget. Open our eyes to see more opportunities to serve You and our fellow believers. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen