Yesterday, I wrote about how we could change the world by having a purposeful ministry in our blogs and our websites. Today, I want to touch on what it means to have a purposeful ministry.
What does it mean to be purposeful?
Purposeful is defined as having intent. Is it your intent to spread the Word of God and His Good News to all that come into contact with your blog and/or website? How do you do this? Is it obvious to others that your love of God is first and foremost in your life? I don't mean you need to go "Holier- than- thou" on them, but is it clear to all that read your content, that you are a Christ follower? Or is it just a vague idea hidden somewhere as a sidenote?
What does it mean to minister and/ or to witness?
I am aware that not all are comfortable being teachers, and few are qualified to be evangelists or pastors. I am certainly not qualified to be either, though I like to think I'm a fairly good teacher. Having said that, I want to make clear that while helping others to learn to read their bible, and learn the contents within, is of utmost importance, (It is God's Holy Instruction Manual, after all.) there are also other ways to minister and witness to others as well.
I believe the most effective means of doing this (aside from teaching bible study) is to be authentic and transparent. What does that mean, you ask? Let's take transparent first: Being transparent means letting others know that though you are a Christ follower, you are still human. They see the way you live your life, and how God's presence influences it. It means showing your motives, so to speak.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 ESV (emphasis mine)
Being authentic is very close to the same thing. It means not only letting your motives show, but the reasons behind them as well. It means showing the real you. Warts and all. Many unbelievers get the impression that Christians are hypocrites (and sometimes, unfortunately, they are correct.) They also get the impression that believers have it easy. That we don't have the same problems they do, because we put on our mask of peace. We're afraid to let the world know that while we have peace, it is only through trust in Him that it exists. Not because we don't have issues and moments of utter human-ness.
For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 ESV(emphasis mine)
So to those of you that want to be purposeful, transparent and authentic in your faith, I say Praise God! For you are doing much the same as Paul did, in his ministry to the early churches.
For our boast is this: the testimony of our conscience that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. 2 Corinthians 1:12 ESV (emphasis mine)
---Lord, today I pray that I might be purposefully authentic and transparent in all my dealings. That this ministry you have blessed me with will touch others according to Your Plan. I pray that the others that you have also blessed with the talent and responsibility to reach others will pray the same prayer. I pray that I reach believers and unbelievers alike, that Your Name alone would be glorified. I pray these things in Jesus' Holy Name. Amen.
