Introduction: Now we are entering into the next step of our spiritual lives. This step tells us about our ministry for the Kingdom of God. If you jump on to this step directly without taking the previous steps, you cannot stand there for long. Your ministry (whatever kind it may be), will never be fruitful if you are not filled with mercy and purity of heart. We have both seen in detail, what it means to be merciful and pure in heart, and also how we can achieve them. Now, we shall see what it means to make peace and how we can do it. May the Holy Spirit teach us.
The Lord is telling us that those who make peace are blessed. After hearing these words from the Lord, a question arises in our hearts: “Between whom should we make peace?” The answer to this question is found in II Corinthians 5:18-21, where it is written, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God to Him.” According to these words of the Bible, it is clear that ministry involves making peace between God and human beings.
We, as ministers of the eternal gospel, know that the fault is entirely with us and not with God. It is because of us that there is no peace with God for us. We sinned and turned against God. Sin had destroyed the peace between God and humanity. Through sin came curses, problems, tears, and death. It is deeply saddening to see the sorrowful condition of humanity in this world. This world rejected the source of its life. They are destroying themselves. The merciful God, through the work of salvation accomplished by Jesus Christ, wants to make peace with this world. As believers, we know how deeply God has been loving us. We know how much God desires our salvation. We know the dangers of sin and hell. We know how helpless we are without Jesus Christ. We know how greatly we need the Son of God. We have experienced and have been experiencing these things. But look at the world. It does not know the truth. Unknowingly, they are heading towards hell.
Countless people are living in great sorrow, because they do not know Jesus Christ, The Prince of Peace. We, who know the truth, are responsible to preach the gospel of peace to this world. God will hold us responsible for this. Our responsibility in this great ministry of peace-making will not just end with preaching the gospel once or twice to the perishing people. We should also look after them like good shepherds. We should give them the milk of God’s word. When they are in sorrow, we should go to them and pray for them with tears. When they are rejoicing we should rejoice with them. We should comfort them with our preaching, prayers, songs and in whatever ways we can. Like parents for their children, we should offer our lives for their spiritual growth. All these constitute the ministry of peace-making.
What ever kind of ministry we do, our ultimate goal is to make peace between God and the people among whom we are ministering. As ministers, we should never forget this goal. Each one of us has different talents and in different proportions. Because of this, no one of us has a similar kind of ministry as that of others. Some may preach. Some may prophesy. Some may pray. Some may sing songs. Some may serve. Some may help. Some may rule. Some may heal. There are so many that I cannot list each and every one. But all of us should remember that what ever talents or kinds of ministry we have, we should use them to attain the ultimate goal of making peace between God and humanity. If we miss or neglect or forget this ultimate goal, we cannot use our talents effectively. There will be the danger of becoming fruitless or puffed up or destroying the work of the Lord.
Know and always keep in mind why you are in the ministry. You are not in the ministry because God had promised you to bless you greatly in spirit if you do ministry. God had not given you talents for your glory. God had not given you some responsibilities and authority in ministry to exalt you. The ministry is a sacred and serious thing. The eternal destiny of countless millions of perishing and helpless souls depends on ministry. We have to reconcile the people with God. You have to be filled with mercy for these people. There is no place for your self benefits in ministry. You should even be prepared to sacrifice everything, even up to the point of your life for the sake of gospel. You can only do this if you have climbed the previous two steps of being filled with mercy and becoming pure in heart.
Do not enter into ministry because God has promised you to make a great preacher, or prophet, or apostle, or singer, or prayer warrior, or healer, or ruler, or pastor, or what ever it may be. Jump into this great battle field of ministry only if you have burden for perishing souls. Come into the ministry only if you are willing to give up your pride, your self-respect, your wealth, and your self-comfort. Enter the ministry only if you are willing to bear everything with patience and wage spiritual warfare with the unseen forces of darkness. God will no doubt help and greatly bless those who are in the ministry. But God does not want those who are entering in to the ministry only to become “great servants of God”.
Is your love for perishing souls a genuine one? Is Holy Spirit putting great burden in your heart for the perishing souls? We do not require a “special call from God” to enter into ministry. Jesus had already given that call to every one of us while He was ascending up to Heaven. Many believers are waiting for a “call” from God. They are waiting for a promise of great blessing (both earthly and spiritual) from God before entering into ministry. This is not genuine love for perishing souls. Believers are seeking self-glory and self-blessings. Very few are willing to sacrifice themselves for the ministry of the gospel.
God is looking for volunteers who are willing to serve Him. He will not force any one to serve Him. He does not like people who are required to be promised of blessing before they can serve Him. Are you the one who is willing to serve God for the sake of Himself and for His love towards humanity rather than seeking something for yourself? If you are, then God will gladly accept your service to Him and bless you richly. It is true that God does not call every one for a full-time ministry. But, even to do a part-time ministry you need to show genuine love and mercy without selfishness. Only then can your ministry of peace-making bear fruits a hundred fold for the glory of God.
Blessed are such people. God will call them His sons and His children. Many people are waiting for a “blessing” in their ministry. But Jesus is saying that those who are in the ministry of peace-making are already blessed. Is it your desire to show people the love of Jesus? Is it your desire to show people the taste of the goodness of the God, which you have tasted? Are you giving up money or self-respect or loved ones for the sake of ministry? If your answer to these questions is yes, then you are a blessed person. You are a child of God. Jesus does not shy away to call you “My Child”, in the presence of the Father and the holy angels. God bless you. Amen.
