INTO THE MINISTRY. 1st Timothy 1:12. There are some things we never forget, nor should we. Like Paul, the changes that the grace of God has made in us serve as the basis for the “charge” we received from our Lord to “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.” Our human weakness provides God with the perfect opportunity to display the exceeding riches of His grace. God’s enablement is all that is needed to be effective in any “ministry” He places in our hands.
When we are obedient to God's will, our life's circumstances are usually out of our control. However, God provides us with the necessary ability and strength to do His will when we are in union with our Lord Jesus Christ. He is our living, exalted Lord who has promised to be with us until the “end of the age.” He will never leave or forsake us, so we can say, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
“The Gospel of the Glory of the Blessed God” explains Paul’s testimony to understand the wonders of God’s grace and power. This served as the foundation of his charge to Timothy when he entrusted him with the responsibility to teach in Ephesus. Giving thanks is a suitable way to show reverence for the Lord Jesus Christ. (By the way: "reverence" is an important topic taught in Leviticus 19... even for your own body). Paul was expressing gratitude for what Christ had done for him—saving him and granting him apostolic authority. In light of the Gospel, he had been a law-keeper and testified to what that meant. The Lord "enabled" this work of grace to occur, and he was "counted faithful" as someone who remained consistent in living out the principles necessary to be a trustworthy person in all situations. As a result, Paul was given a "ministry," a special task from God. In this case, it involved the public proclamation of the Gospel.
As servants, we are responsible to God for how we manage what He gives us. We shouldn't worry too much about human judgment because our duty is to our Master, not just to other servants. When the Lord gives us authority to serve Him in a specific way, He expects us to be faithful and do our best according to His divine instructions.
Integrity and willingness to accept responsibility are essential for being entrusted with work for our Lord. Each believer has their own task, and each one's work is different. The Lord is responsible for teaching us the truths given to us. There will always be some form of criticism when someone speaks for God. People have their opinions about the best way to do God's work. Just do the job the Lord assigns, and do it as if you are working for Him, not for men.
My responsibility to God is to faithfully present what has been entrusted to me to His people. God's truth must be accurately interpreted and wisely applied so that those who hear can easily understand what is to be shared. The truths taught by God's faithful servants will be critically and righteously examined by the Lord. We cannot see the motivation behind a servant of God's work. The inward "counsels of the heart" are known only to God, who examines the heart. Leave the judgment of a person and his message to God, who will deal with them by His standard and in His time.
One's efforts through suffering and disappointments, as well as the victories associated with reaching into a far corner of the harvest field, will likely be quite different from those of someone called to minister to large crowds. The latter's charismatic personality and commanding voice can be effectively used to benefit many. God knows the motive behind each person's labor and ministry.
The physical cost of faithful service to the Lord was very high for those apostles following in the steps of the Lord Jesus. What He experienced, they also endured. It is not easy for anyone who wants to take the Gospel to unbelievers around the world. There have been, are, and will continue to be costs to pay to serve God as He calls His stewards to do His will.
There is a faithfulness in some that provides the motivation to keep moving forward as a steward of the Master who sent him. Work has been assigned to them so that others might understand what has been hidden and, in genuine faith, willingly accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord by trusting in Him alone for salvation and surrendering to Him in practical sanctification.
He is not only our Savior but also our Master. Our Lord Jesus Christ, as High Priest and Mediator, will soon administer rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ. That is where He will reveal our motives and give appropriate rewards based on our faithful stewardship. By His grace and power, when we have fulfilled the purpose for which we were sent out—the spiritual task we were given—we can meet the Master's expectations. There will be opposition and persecution we must face, but despite those challenges, we press forward in faith.
The memory of our past experiences with God is a reason for gratitude today. Just as God’s grace to Paul, the persecutor is described as mercy; we, too, are judged based on what we know. It’s not merely a skill we might have that enables us to serve God; He is the One who empowers us to speak for Him. He has the right to expect us to be faithful to the Lord and His Word, and He provides the gift so we can do His will in the way He determines. He doesn’t leave us to do it on our own in our fleshly effort or as we see fit. The ministry God gives has divine purposes, ensuring all glory is given to God alone.
It is a great privilege to be entrusted with a task that God feels I am capable of fulfilling. When I realize the value of giving financially to the Lord’s work until it hurts but continue in it, it brings great satisfaction to know there is a specific reason God brought this particular ministry to me. He did so so that I could have a part to work in this harvest season. The lasting results are what I am praying for and waiting to see.
I am grateful to see the blessings given to those God called me to serve. Whether it's physical work I can do or lessons to teach, the results are evident from my participation. It doesn’t matter what others think; God, for His own reasons, has enabled me to be part of kingdom work. It is only right that I, for His glory, strive to please God Himself, who made this ministry possible for my humble efforts.