2nd Corinthians 11:23-28
23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones,three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
Quickword: The Why is not important
This morning upon waking up, my wife was waiting to tell me a story about a series of traumatic experiences one of her colleagues experienced this year while during ministry. This person's journey reminds us of the mission and ministry of the Apostle Paul as surmised in 2nd Corinthians Chapter eleven. Real ministry comes with a cost.
Real ministry requires real work
Real ministry opens us up to be hurt by friend and foe
Real ministry will cause you to labor through hunger and thirst
Real ministry puts daily pressure upon those who labor
Often times we have this need to want to know why certain things happen to us while we are doing ministry. My brothers and sisters, thy why is not important, it's not important because we have absolutely surrendered our lives unto God. I confess this morning that I recognize that there are parts of my journey that I'm still directing because I have this human desire to know the why. In the grand scheme of things, if I'm trusting God to order my steps, the why is really not important. What is important is that we trust and wait on God throughout the ups and downs of life. The why is not important. What is important is The Who. Who are we depending on to lead and guide our lives?
Comments