(FreeImages.com/sunshizzle)
This past Sunday was one of those “light-bulb” moments.
I was sitting in a gathering with many people, listening to a powerful testimony and under the truth-piercing Word of God. My heart was being convicted — not in a shameful way but in a way that caused me to repent in order to receive from God. I was being convicted of selfishness, pride, and self-seeking within my heart.
God had placed within my heart a calling to reach out to people and to share with them how God changes hearts and what it means to have an authentic and personal relationship with God. The problem is that my calling had turned into self-seeking. I was looking for a ministry out there, when the ministry was in front of my face.
On Sunday, it was a powerful moment when I recognized my pride, selfishness, and lack of faith. Because of these soul issues, I was often unwilling to do the “scary” thing, to step out of my comfort zone, and reach out to others.
As soon as I repented of this, the “light-bulb”moment appeared. I, all of a sudden, realized that God had placed His love in my heart for several strangers surrounding me, and those were my ministry. I suddenly realized, that when I follow the love, my ministry will be found. I know this may sound “cheesy,” but it’s the profound truth.
So often, we follow after a ministry, but instead, God wants us to follow after Him and to be so filled with His love for others that “ministry” is the natural by-product.
Ministry is where the love is.
Loving God through others is the ministry
God doesn’t call us to be in full-time ministry. God calls us to love Him and to love Him by loving His people.
When you follow the heart of God, you will find the “ministry” He has in store for you.
This past Sunday that happened in a huge way for me, I began to reach out to strangers with whom I had fallen in love. God led me to pray over a couple, their sick child, a young woman in a wheelchair, and other hurting people. Why did I do this? Because He gave me His heart for them.
So often, we get it so wrong! We want the glory or this sense of purpose by doing things when God just calls us to give His heart to others. Suddenly, the self-glory and the fear that holds us captive are no longer snares, and we are able to step out in joyful abandon, following Him.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.Luke 4:18
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Grace In The Moment 