Thursday, August 7

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014

Ezra 5::1–6:22

1 Corinthians 3:5–23

Psalm 29:1–11

Proverbs 20:24,25

 

 

In Thursday’s passage from 1 Corinthians 3:5–23, Paul discusses the realities facing a minister of the New Covenant.

 

First, he notes that anyone so ministering really serves as “co-workers in God’s service.”  Their efforts do not come from an individual alone, but rather God “makes all things grow.”  Each minister takes on different roles, either as tiller, planter, waterer, or harvester, yet, in all this, God maintains sovereignty over the process.  In His grace, fruit comes from these efforts, according to God’s good pleasure and purpose.  For this reason, no one should take pride in the successes of ministry or deprecate oneself in the failure of achieving “numbers.”  God takes full responsibility for the harvest.  As a result, we should praise God for any rejoicing through ministry and refrain from exalting ours or other people’s names.

 

Even with God’s sovereignty over the process, however, the laborers do have a righteous motivation of reward in participating.  We ought not sit idly by and watch a hurting world.  We should jump in and seek God’s direction for service.

 

Earlier this week, I received a great quote from Dwight L. Moody, an American evangelist in the late 1800s.  In writing about Jesus’s conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well – to which the disciples had wondered, “What’s the point?” – Moody commented:  “There are many of us that are willing to do great things for the Lord; but few of us willing to do little things...  Look at that wonderful sermon that [Jesus] preached to that lone woman at the well of Samaria.  He was tired and weary, but he had time and the heart to preach to her.  This is but one of many instances in the life of the Master from which we may learn a precious lesson.  If the Son of God had time to preach to one soul, cannot every one of us go and do the same?”  Indeed, the journey of ministry takes many small steps, of which we, by God’s grace, are all capable and equipped.

In the next verses, Paul touches upon the personal responsibility we hold in remaining faithful to God’s instructions:  “building” on a wise foundation, Jesus Christ alone.  In that final Day, the permanency and value of the long-term fruit of ministry or growth in faith will shine through, as the temporal accomplishments of life will fade away in a fire.  What we have built in ourselves and others on that solid foundation will last into eternity, and its quality will become quite apparent.  These words and reflections definitely encourage us to “mind the store” of our lives and to sow good seed into the lives of young people and our friends that we would like to encourage and build up in the faith.

 

Paul also writes:  “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?  If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.”  These verses and others suggest that, individually and corporately, the Holy Spirit dwells within us and in our midst.  He guides, empowers, corrects, and strengthens us for the ministry of daily life.  Thanks be to God!

 

 

Lord Jesus, thank You for those spiritual leaders whom You have led into our lives.  Help us to serve others with the same spirit of charity and compassion.  Shape us, Lord, into Your servants, Your hands and feet.  In Your Name, amen.

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