Faultless Ministry

"We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry."  -2 Corinthians 6:3

Do you have a ministry?  The answer is yes!  Each of us are called to be ministers.  We are first called to someone (Jesus), and then we are called to represent His nature in the world. That is a huge responsibility, but not one to be scared of.  I heard ministry aptly described the other day: "being an ambassador of love and reconciliation." Isn't that awesome?  Once you and I are born again, anew in Christ, we are called to be ambassadors of love and reconciliation. 

But, what about all the stuff that goes on out there?  What about the bad rap Christians get for "standing up for the truth"; being judgmental, narrow minded, and hypocritical?  It is quite a battlefield, and it's true if we're going to represent Jesus accurately, we need to be cautious and accountable for how we live our lives.  I love the verse above - "We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry."

There are many examples of ministry gone wrong.  The sign on the street that says "God hates gays", financial distributions out of wack, stingy tips at a restaurant, and all around rude or difficult behavior.  Still, some confess to be Christians but live the same way as the world.  We as the body of Christ definitely have some work to do.

But all of this doesn't mean we don't continue to try.  God has given us the biggest responsibility on earth - to represent Him wherever we are.  That is a huge honor.  And it doesn't mean we're perfect, by any means.  But we understand that in our weakness, we are made strong - because of our dependence on His grace. 

Do you know that you are God's minister to a hurting world?  You could be the very person that brings hope into someone's life.  Seek after Jesus in all things.  Be an ambassador of love and reconciliation.  He will make your life count.

The Son is Always There

"I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5b

Have you ever seen the sun shine when it's raining? It is one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. It is a natural phenomenon, a lot like the Northern Lights. The rain pours down, with big grey drops, and showers the earth with its downpour. But, as the sun peeks through, the raindrops that fall are no longer grey. They are bright and shimmering, like little yellow stars falling from the sky. Even through the clouds and the rain, the sun is able to shine.
 
More often, we don't see the sun when it's raining. However, that doesn't mean it isn't there.
 
In life, it takes rare perspective to realize the sun is still present despite the rain. It takes an even rarer perspective still to see Jesus in the midst of our most difficult circumstances. We often see He had been in our midst long after, in the insight we gained after the circumstance or event occurred. The "sun" that gives light and warmth to the earth is a great reminder of God's Son, who is always with us.
 
What can cloud our vision? Love of money, self-doubt, bitterness, rejection, condemnation, fear, greed; there are so many things that can cloud our vision from seeing the presence of the Son of God with us. We have to learn to break past those things that blur our vision to go to a place of faith in God. It takes faith to know our God is there - even when we can't see Him, and especially when it appears as though the world is falling down around us.
 
Jesus is the Son behind the clouds. In the midst of our 'clouds' and rain, He is present in our time of greatest need. We have to remember to look for the light of the Son from behind the rain. He promises to ALWAYS be there, as long as we have faith in our promise in Him.

A Father's Heart

"Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father.'" Galatians 4:6 NIV

Once when I worked for a high-end department store I was helping a young lady and her father with a dress for prom. I had a dress on hold for her, but when she came in to try it on we realized it was going to be too big. Both she and her father were so sad, but then, I found one dress hiding in another place, in exactly her size! Both the dad and daughter were overjoyed, and it was gorgegous; white satin with beautiful butterflies of all different colors all over the dress, and sparkling silver sequins dotted throughout the bodice.
 
When she tried it on, she looked fantastic. It seemed as though the dress had been made especially for her. As she turned to go back into the dressing room, brimming with excitement, her dad began to tell me of his shopping adventures with his four little girls. Ever since they were young he would take his daughters shopping. He remembered his youngest, the daughter he was shopping with now, trying on clothes when she was just a toddler, and he reminisced about how people would look at her, thinking she was just the cutest thing.
 
I was struck by his open affection and big heart. What also struck me was how down to earth these people were - both he and his daughter. It made me think of our relationship with our heavenly Father. Sometimes our earthly fathers may not be able to give us everything they want to give us. Sometimes we ask for things that aren't very good for us. Sometimes we may not have the best relationship with our "earlthy" fathers. But our Father in heaven does want the very best for us. He loves us so much! Can you imagine what it must be like to be God's son or daughter in heaven? If this man had such a big heart for his four girls, how much bigger is God's heart for us?
 
"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 7:9-12 NIV
 
God is a God of the unlimited - unlimited love, unlimited acceptance, unlimited resources, unlimited everything. In Him there is no need. Ask him to be your perfect father today, to be everything you missed, and everything you will ever need. Ask him to be your perfect Father today.