Category: Christian

Do you see serving God as ‘public’ ministry? I have for years, and it was wonderful. I served on the altar guild, as coordinator to deliver meals to shut-ins, lead women’s Bible studies (my favorite ministry, and hopefully one I will pick up again soon), wedding coordinator, Stephen Ministry, and sang in the praise team. Yes, I was very much involved in ‘public’ ministry. Until last winter; when I physically got sick.

You see, I also have a family and a full-time job outside the home. It became too much for my body to serve everywhere with a whole heart. Isn’t it amazing how God constructed our body? To have it shut down when He thinks we need to take a break?! When we go off and push our own agenda and not following His will for us?!

I had to evaluate my ‘public’ ministry. Was I serving to glorify His name or to receive praises from men? “Serve wholeheartley, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,…”~Ephesians 6:7 (emphasis mine). Of course it was great to hear what a great job I was doing, to see my name in the Sunday bulletin or in a flyer announcing Bible studies. But was that what God wanted me to do? I don’t know for sure and probably will not until I see Him face to face. But I do know that I needed to pay more attention to my service within my own four walls. Even though it might not be such a ‘public’ ministry to cook, clean, doing laundry for my guys or being a good friend; but it still honors my God. “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” ~1 Peter 4:11 (emphasis mine).

I am not saying that you should not serve in your congregation or in ‘public’ ministry. I am saying that you need to look at your motivation to serve in ‘public’. Is it to glorify Him or to receive praises from men?

I want to leave you this week with a quote by Sheila Walsh, co-author of the women’s Bible study series “Women of Faith“:

“Do you ever feel as if you are killing yourself serving your children and your husband or your church or your friends, but no one seems to notice or appreciate you? I believe we women need to resist that type of thinking. It’s so discouraging and it’s so untrue! God sees our hearts, and that’s all He cares about. He doesn’t miss a single moment of a life lived out for Him”.

Important: Your hostess for the carnival entry this week is Amanda at “Following an Unknown Path“. Please submit your entry to her via email to amanda47 [at] gmail.com. As always, the entry deadline is on Tuesday (January 24th) at 3pm EST…Hope to see you at Amanda’s this week.

In His Grip ~ Eph2810…