A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (March 23,2018)
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15)
Do you remember the scriptural account where James and John (the sons of Zebedee) came to Jesus and asked Him if they could sit on His right and left in His glory? The other disciples were not impressed with that attitude at all and neither was Jesus. However, this was one of those teaching moments that Jesus took advantage of to explain to all His disciples (which includes all of us) what being a disciple of Jesus is all about. Listen to the response of Jesus:
But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:42-25)
Jesus was painting a picture for His disciples on what a real disciple was supposed to be about. This was not about climbing a ladder of success and distinction. This was not about lording it over people. This was not about being famous. This was about ministering to people. Jesus emphasized this point by saying even He (the Son of Man and the Son of God) came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. Just think about this for a second. Twelve disciples turned the world upside down by ministering to one person at a time and teaching them to minister to one person at a time. Let me ask you a question. We now have millions of church going people that profess to be disciples of Jesus Christ. Do you see that same kind of devotion today? If you were asked to describe your church, or even yourself, would you fit into the “ministered unto” group or the “minister to” group? Does the extent of our walk with the Lord only include going to church once or twice a week and being “ministered unto”?
A true disciple of Jesus will not be satisfied with just being ministered unto. A true disciple will be looking for some way to minister and serve people. That is how you grow as a disciple. You have to give it out if you want to receive more. You can memorize the entire Bible but unless you use it to minister to people you will never really understand it and you will never grow in your faith. You don’t just listen to God’s word. You do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it’s like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says, and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. (James 1:22-25, NLT)
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (2 Corinthians 5:18)
If you have been born-again, you have been given the ministry of reconciliation. That means it is your calling to help reconcile people back to God. That is what the twelve disciples did and that is what we are to do. They turned the world upside down. Just think what we could all do if we would just all minister to one person at a time.
