What Is Your Ministry?

Isaiah 61 is about The Good News of Deliverance.

But the prophet speaks of more than deliverance.

He also speaks of roles that are to be filled.

Isaiah 61:6a (NRSVue) - but you shall be called priests of the Lord; you shall be named ministers of our God;

We typically think of ministers as individuals who answer God’s call to lead a congregation.

But this is only one type of ministry.

Paul, in his first letter to Corinth, writes of The Ministry of the Apostles.

1 Corinthians 4:1 (NRSVue) - Think of us in this way: as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.

Believers are given a wide assortment of gifts by God to conduct various ministries.

True, some are called to be ministers of congregations.

Some are given the gift of music.

Others are given the ability to create.

Some are given the ability to write.

Others are given the ability to administer (you can even see the word ‘minister’ in this).

Some are given the ability to teach.

Others are given the ability to encourage.

These merely begin the list of all the gifts God bestows.

God has given us life, but he also equips us to serve,

It is up to us to listen to His call and to respond accordingly.

There is much in the way of Kingdom work to be done.

Not one of us can do absolutely everything, but each of us is equipped to do something.

And there is no greater joy than discovering your gift and making that a vital part of your personal ministry,

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, December 13, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, December 20, 2024

We Need the Good Shepherd

Micah 7:14a (NET) - Shepherd your people with your rod,

The prophet begins the chapter by lamenting the sins of the people.

He follows this with words of vindication.

He concludes with a prayer in which he asks for a shepherd.

The prophet understood how important it was for us to have a shepherd.

Scripture makes many comparisons between people and sheep.

But these comparisons are not necessarily flattering.

I personally know people who currently raise these animals.

The insights they have shared with me have proven quite revealing.

To begin with, sheep are basically helpless.

Left unprotected, they easily fall victim to predators.

Sheep are also quite stubborn.

They have minds of their own and will stray if permitted.

Sheep also need attention.

To thrive, sheep require direction.

To be honest, people share these same characteristics.

Jesus understood this and explained this to his disciples.

John 10:4 (NET) - When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

Like sheep, we are basically weak.

We also have a stubborn streak a mile wide.

Left on our own, we wander and stray.

But we were meant to thrive.

But to do so, we, like our wooly friends, need a shepherd.

Fortunately for us, Jesus is no ordinary shepherd, He is the Good Shepherd!

Because of this, we are truly blessed.

Jesus knows us intimately; better than we know ourselves.

We know His voice and respond to it.

Regardless of where life takes us, Jesus lovingly guides us every step of the way.

Life does not have to be dangerous, chaotic, and meaningless.

We just require the Good Shepherd.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, January 28, 2022.

I will be back here on Friday, February 4, 2022