Minister to one another
Thursday, September 7, 2017
1 Peter 4:10
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
The Apostle Peter continues to engage the believers about the context and nature of their service in his first letter. Peter establish Christ as our model and challenges us to serve, and if necessary suffer, for God’s glory.
We are able to serve because we have received gifts from God. Each of us has received some gift that is of benefit and service to the rest of us. In the first of Paul’s letters to the church in Corinth he put it this way, “the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.”
Often, as believers, especially as leaders, we are consumed with how we can provide ministry to “those in need.” We have on our minds those who are outside of the household of faith or those who are not considered as mature, or persons in life difficulty or even sickness.
We hardly ever look inside at ourselves, at those serving alongside us who are themselves in need of ministry. The old people had a saying that “charity begins at home;” it is wrong for us to be consumed with ministry to others when we are not able to discern and minister to each other.
On our leadership teams we have to provide ministry to each other. If together we are healed and whole we would be better able to minister to others.
Of course, there is a difficulty, this difficulty takes us back to the issue of relationships. Ministry requires vulnerability. In the absence of mutual respect and trust we are unable to be vulnerable with each other. If we are afraid or unable to be vulnerable or transparent we remove the possibility of giving and receiving ministry.
James puts the matter of vulnerability and ministry this way, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” This kind of transparency and vulnerability requires good relationships between believers. This serving with each other must grow therefore so that we could minister to one another.
Think of these things:
- Do you have any relationship in the Kingdom where you are comfortable being vulnerable?
- How would you be able to use your gift to minister to others with whom you work in the church?
- What ministry would you be able to receive from your fellow workers?
Prayer focus:
Let us pray today that we, with the help of the Spirit, would be able to discern each other’s needs and provide appropriate ministry.
In His Grace
Pastor Alex