When thinking about what a ministry looks like, an image towards a church, a building where religious services are held, or maybe just a person that leads the group within our area of religious worship comes to mind. Even so, I would like to encourage you to review with me a few methods where God enlightens us to work on His behalf. With God, we can be used to help others notice His work, too. Though you may not realize your own impact, even your own voice aligning with God's method in your life, your life has a ministry to it. Your actions and faith, among many other forms of leading by example, often have a ripple effect.
13And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along.14 And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host. 15And it was so , when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian. Judges 7:13-15 KJV
Immediately, unknowingly to the conversation, Gideon starts to thank God for the promise fulfilled and worshiped Him to thank God. It was a confirmation specifically advised to strengthen Gideon's hand for the coming battle. After the request was accomplished, Gideon's faith of God's presence was strengthened. A way for Gideon to be encouraged for the coming test, showing that God would allow him to be victorious, but also showing that God knew Gideon needed to hear the dream. While the two men continued on in conversation about the dream, they inspired a man, unknowingly ministering to him!
While it may seem out of the ordinary to most, God has a way of allowing us to see it could have only been Him. Although the man and his fellow thought they were just talking to each other, sharing a dream to a friend, a person overhearing the conversation was being prophesied to. Though the impact sometimes eludes us, God's work thru you is a confirmation of the spirit of the Lord being poured out unto all within the world.
While Gideon was walking thru the dark, obeying God's instruction, Gideon was rewarded with even more confidence that God was so close. Just as we often may feel unseen during our trials that we face, we are gifted the Holy Spirit to continue to guide us in the way of Jesus' teachings. If you've accepted Jesus' as your Savior, that allows you to walk in the path of light, directly to the Father, requesting humbly from the throne. Though the world can distract us from that, know that Jesus notices what others often do not see.
And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: for all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had. Luke 21:1-4 KJV
While a widow was making her donation, she exemplifies a teaching for Jesus to show. Though many in the area were rich, her donation had surpassed all he had witnessed when realizing her status, as well as her funds available. Her donation may have seemed small, even to her own eyes when relative to others giving, but God knows the impact her donation had on her life. In spite of her immediate reward seen outwardly, Jesus uses her actions to show His disciples a giving heart, placing others before themself.
Though we try to develop our own systems to understand God's work in our life, Jesus makes it clear that He is bringing a new way of life to all of us. Though Jesus' disciples continued to have direct access to request guidance, each question ushers us to gain knowledge of the kingdom of God and how His kingdom operates. Just as Jesus teaches us, our human understanding of God's work within our lives is often misunderstood. We tend to want to balance scales that we have created within our minds, developing expectations we equate to the loss or gain from our life.
2And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. John 9:2-5 KJV
Although Jesus was ministering directly to His disciples, a requirement of His message was to sacrifice Himself. Condemned by the world, Jesus openly discusses knowing this fate. While we cannot always understand our trials, we can always have faith that God is with us throughout it. Not only available to mentor us, but to mold us thru the process. It may be hard to see beyond the current challenge we face but know that, with the guidance from God, you are being developed from each of the obstacles you surpass.
Just as much as we try to develop routines, methodical ways of creating the easy, or most efficient way; God has been working with humankind to allow us better ways to share His kingdom. Our covenant, or promise from God, allows us to repent from sin and to be a continuous work towards a closer relationship with God. This walk with God is a lit path from Jesus Christ's ministry. Walk a life guided by the gift of the Holy Spirit, exemplified by Jesus Christ, being mentored by and led to the Father in Heaven.
Please join me in a prayer together:
"Heavenly Father, thank You for always seeing Jesus when You look at us. Thank You for the path grinding us into powder, refining us to be better. Please continue to guide and order our steps, aligning our path to Your will. Please continue to strengthen our hands before each battle that we may face, encouraging us with Your presence. With You, nothing can overcome us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen!"
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