November 2015

can do is take the time to show
them how to discover God’s
truth for themselves. We must
be ready to give an answer for
our faith (1 Peter 3:15). We grow
while we search for the answers
they seek. What a delight to see
someone’s eyes sparkle when
they come back to tell us about
the treasures they have discovered
or the changes they have
made as a result of our service.
Meeting Needs
Our world is full of hurting, needy
people. An inner city ministry
outreach of a church where my
family attended was the Baptist
Center in Toledo, Ohio. The missionary
who led this mission was
often surrounded by excited children
after school. They were so
eager to learn the Bible because
they were accepted without judgment.
They loved to be entrusted
with age-appropriate responsibilities.
Volunteers came to help
lead songs and play games with
the children. Others would help
sort clothing for the clothing
closet so people could find items
for their families without cost.
There are always many missions
and para-church ministries in
need of help. Christian brothers
and sisters help distribute food,
Bibles, and tracts with a food
pantry. Yet others feel led to give
financially to ministries so they
may continue operations. You
may be called to give aid to ministries
like these, sharing Christ
as you meet physical needs. It
is gratifying to see relief come
across faces who know they are
not judged because they asked
for help. We can be a part of
giving as to the Lord (Matthew
25:34-40) when we allow God
to interrupt our lives for His kingdom.
A Deeper Walk with God
When God works in us our lives,
we are never the same again.
He reveals more of Himself to
us as we serve when we see His
work through us for the benefit
of others. Our communication
with Him grows more intimate.
We lay our lives before Him to
use when we spend more concentrated
time in prayer. Those
prayers are no longer a laundry
list of needs, but a rich, deep
conversation with our Heavenly
Father. He gives us insight into
life situations with a wisdom not
our own. What a precious relationship
we can experience by
serving God out of gratitude for
His tremendous love for us.
Seeing God’s Word Come to Life
When God opens His word up
to us more deeply, we find ourselves
awestruck as we see the
reality of God’s Word for others
lives as well as our own. The
Bible is a storehouse of treasures.
The Holy Spirit guides us
to discover more life-changing
truth when we dig deeper into
Scripture. Our faith matures from
the spiritual milk of God’s Word
to solid food, as the Apostle Paul
writes in 1 Corinthians 3:1. What
a great opportunity for growth!
His Blessing and Provision
Blessings come as we meet the
needs of others in ways that only
God has uniquely qualified us
to do. He opens up doors that
would normally be closed. He
provides for needs in ways that
can only be described as miraculous.
He protects our time with
others when our efforts would
normally be sidelined.
Mixed Blessings
Pastors and missionaries often
find themselves in horrible circumstances.
It is as if a target
is painted on their backs. Yet
in an awful, but joyful way they
witness God working in people
through those circumstances.
Opposition at work, in school,
and in the other areas of influence
we have, will come. Still we
are called to rejoice when various
trials happen (James 1:2-4).
Our reward is not here. As God
told Abraham in Genesis 15:1, “I
am your shield, your very great
Reward.”
We have a ministry in our workplace.
God places us where we
are for His purposes and His
glory, not our own. Times come
when a work situation is lessthan-ideal.
It may be very difficult
to feel the blessings. Nonetheless,
God has placed you where
you are for a reason. Satisfaction
can be found in those situations
simply because the Lord
has chosen you to fulfill His purposes.
Sometimes we are only
allowed to show Christ to people
through our attitudes and actions
because our verbal witness is
silenced. Those around you will
take notice of the difference
in your life compared to those
of non-believers. In all circumstances
we are told to give God
the praise and glory, like Paul
did in his less-than-ideal circumstances
(Philippians 4:11-13). At
such times, the biggest blessings
will be learning to see God
working in you, around you, and
through you. What a reward you
will receive on this side of eternity.
You are called and uniquely
qualified where you are. Serve
the Lord where He has placed
and give Him the glory in all
things.