I Stand Redeemed

 

Last week I came to the realization that satan does some of his best work inside the church.  Safe places.  Places where the body of Christ should be authentic, where leadership should be taking their direction from The Head - Jesus! 

There is no biblical basis for stardom in God's kingdom.  We gain in knowledge of Christ, we grow in spiritual maturity, and we are to develop in serving Him only by His grace.

 

 

If that is true, why are so many of God's children being crushed by the blows of the "ministry hammer?"  


A friend from the Christian ministry I worked at for five years called me on the phone to ask for prayer.  It wasn't her request for prayer that stunned me, for I was truly humbled to be asked by such a wonderful woman of God.  It was what she said that totally knocked me for a loop and sent me to my knees.  "Since you left, I don't have anyone to pray with me - everyone is so busy."

WHAT?  Are you kidding me?  She is a 32-year veteran working in a Christ-centered ministry of over 100 people, and no one will take the time to pray with her? 



I realized then the devil continually seeks to distract us from who we are in Christ, and from our function as part of His body.  Simply trusting Jesus to express His life and love through us wherever we go was our mission when we first fell in love with Him and the call on our life.   

Jesus calls us to “renew our minds” – to remember who we now are because of the finished work of Jesus Christ – and not get distracted.  Often times we get so bogged down in 'ministry work' that we miss the point of working in ministry entirely. 

Later, I had to ask myself if I find that I am too busy 'working for Jesus' to miss the opportunities before me.  That very day, Jesus revealed to me a couple of very important answers to questions I have been pleading with Him on.  My world was shaken not long ago by an abrupt job change - and not by choice.  Painful, painful, hurtful at the time it occurred.  You know what I am talking about ladies.  That painful, hurtful, almost shameful feeling that satan sells us.  That emotional mess of lies he peddles throughout our life, telling us we just aren't worthy of being a part of the church!  Come on, you know what I am talking about here.

But I tried to remain faithful and hopeful that someday God might find me worthy to reveal to me what He was doing in my life and why He was doing it.   

Last week, after the phone call, He told me!  He redeemed me from THE ministry so I could get back to AUTHENTIC ministry.  Ministry for all the right reasons.  Ministry that He ordains through His blood shed on Calvary and His marvelous, miraculous grace!

Friends, do you miss the mission Jesus has for you sometimes for being distracted or being too busy?  Are you buying that snake oil that satan is peddling in your ministry world too?


There is no biblical basis for stardom in God's kingdom. We gain in knowledge of Christ, we grow in spiritual maturity, and we are to develop in serving Him only by His grace.  Let that sink in for just a moment or two.


It's not about the size of the church, the numbers in Sunday School or Wednesday night service.  It's not about the mission statement of the Christ-centered ministry or the number of zeros after their donation numbers.  It's not about what you have done for Him.  It's about HIM.  It's about HIM.  It's about HIM. 

Your growth through His grace.
Your knowledge by His Word.
Your service by His strength.
Your work through His work on the cross.

We need to join together and pray for our churches, our ministries, and more importantly, all the members of the body of Christ who might be standing in need of some of His grace today.  My guess is there are more hurting and confused members on the inside looking out, than the outside looking in.  Our adversary works overtime to make certain of that.

"One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple."

Psalm 27:4

Will you join me in standing redeemed today?  Throw away that snake oil, look in the mirror and repeat after me, "It's only by God's grace that He finds me worthy of service this day.  I am worthy because He says that I am.  And it is in Him that I live, and move and have my being.  Today, I work for Jesus!" 

If you feel inclined to do so, would you share with us how this may have encouraged you today to be a little stronger, a little taller, a little more encouraged to serve Him today?

May you be blessed beyond belief and find joy in every breath,