Ministry Of All Believers

"God does not call the qualified,but qualifies those who are called."

"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise" I Cor 1:19

Ministry of All Believers

A Disciple is one who is converted – changed; called, then appointed; chosen and then completed. And interestingly enough, we are all called to discipleship. It’s not a chosen few. God puts the desire in all of our hearts to be used by Him. The question is, what do we do about it?

I always find it very curious to witness the reactions of people when I tell them that I am a minister – particularly when I tell other Christians. They are oftentimes quite surprised and maybe even a little doubtful because, perhaps, I do not fit into the paradigm of the “traditional minister”. To tell you the truth, though, sometimes I find it surprising myself that God called me to minister. I’ve never been very outgoing. I’ve always been somewhat timid and shy…a background person.

But what I’ve learned through studying God’s Word and ministering to others over the last 8 years is that every believer is a “minister” in whatever way they have been gifted to show Christ to others. In the process of learning what it really means to be a Christian, the Lord has shown me that it’s not only about receiving Christ myself, but also bringing others to Christ. We are to know Jesus as Lord and Savior and to make Him known to those around us. And as the church, as a body of believers we each have different roles but equal responsibility. It’s every believer’s responsibility to bring others to Christ.

Once I realized that I was a minister and called to bring others to Christ, I immediately became overwhelmed with fear because I didn’t feel that I possessed the needed personality qualities to minister to other people. But I’ve also come to understand that it’s not important to God how good we are. My feelings of inadequacy and my fear could keep me from fulfilling my call as a minister. But, reading I Corinthians 1:19-29 helps me understand that the Holy Spirit is the one who does the work - not me. We’re only to be available and willing to be used by Him in whatever circumstances that He sees fit to put us.

“…Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.”

God just wants a willing servant. Ministry in the church is about loving and serving others – being the hands and feet of Christ and letting Him love others through us. God looks on the heart, a heart that’s willing to serve – a heart that’s willing and submitted to Him.

I look back sometimes and marvel at how God will use something as flawed and frail as me to do His work. He continually shows me that it is not me or my ability but availability and willingness to say, “O.K. Lord, whatever you want me to do to bring you to others, I’ll do it.”

What an honor and privilege it is to be the hands and feet of Jesus!