Preparing For Ministry

Matthew 10

The world praises the biggest, best, and greatest. The Lord is not that hard to please. In Matthew 10 the Lord was preparing the disciples for their ministry. He was giving them their method of ministry (verses 7, 8, 16), and encouragement (verses 40-42) for their ministry. These were common men going out; they would be intimidated by the world. The Pharisees defined ministry by their eloquent speeches, their flashiness, and their ornate dress. All Jesus asked was that the disciples labor in His Name by witnessing for Him and doing acts of kindness.

God recognizes our service, too, no matter how common or ordinary it appears. In Hebrews 6:10 He asks that we labor in love, not greatness or perfection. We are all created with different gifts and talents. If you have five talents, God doesn't expect of you the same that He expects from someone with 25 talents. As Mary did what she could (Mark 14), the Lord asks the same of us--to do what we can with what we have. The Lord can use anything we have just as He used Moses' rod, David's stones, and the boy's five loaves. Turn what you have over to God, and He will multiply it many times. Since we sin more often than we do good, it is comforting to know that our past failures don't affect our future service and rewards.

Rev Scott Sato

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