Life Is Ministry

LIFE is ministry. It is the way of Jesus.

And calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. [43] But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; [44] and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. [45] For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:42-45

Ministry is every single conversation and interaction with every human being, whether a follower of Jesus, agnostic, or professing atheist, whether family, stranger, or enemy. It is every thought I have toward my fellow man. It is my every intention/motivation involving them. Ministry is no respecter of persons.

I cannot box ministry into a specific task on Sunday at church or Friday night at a soup kitchen during a specific period of time I’ve allocated. Ministry doesn’t punch out at 5pm. It doesn’t turn off because I’m tired.

Ministry isn’t a face I put on or a tone I take because I must. Ministry is the Spirit of God within me, serving Yahweh by caring for His creation — His image-bearers — as if it were Him.

Ministry is the administration of grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness by those who have received it…to those who need it…none of us deserving it.

Like many people who say they “love” someone else, at the root, that love is really just for me. If I love a person because of how they look or make me feel or that I enjoy doing things with them, that is loving ME…because it’s what I am attracted to, it’s what I enjoy, and it fits my preferences.

If I can decide who deserves to be served, how long I will serve, when they deserve it, or how they deserve it, I am serving myself and not the Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator, and Savior of our souls.