By Prem Lee.
Read Col 1:24-25
In 1 Cor 11:1, Paul says “Imitate me as I imitate Christ’. In effect Paul calls us to imitate Christ in our lives and ministry.
In Col 1: 24-25, Paul says, “ I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God“
Paul wants to complete in his body what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ for the church, to fulfil the stewardship responsibility given to him and according to the word of God. Serving the church for Paul proved painful at times. He had spent 18 months planting the church in Corinth only to find a faction preaching against him in the church. These kinds of suffering will be a part of any ministry, but we follow the patterns of Jesus, never giving up, never running away, but continuing to serve.
Paul gives us an example in this. Isaiah describes Jesus as having nothing attractive about Him. When we fulfil our stewardship responsibility, we are not trying to make ourselves attractive, but are trying to meet the needs of the people around us. Our motive is not to make a name for ourselves but to serve people at their point of need. This is the model Jesus has left for us.
Isaiah goes on to say that Jesus has borne our griefs and sorrows. As we learn to do ministry according to the word of God, we also learn to carry the griefs and sorrows of the people we serve and minister to. Sometimes we can get so busy that we forget to listen to people.
In one of the early churches where I was a member, I along with another member did a lot of outreach together. We spent a lot of time together, but I never listened to his concerns. I assumed that he was okay. I moved to another town. I learnt that he had left his wife and dropped out of society living in a wayside hut. I found out that while ministering with me, he would go home and drink. I had never sensed it or heard the silent cries for help.
Let none of us be guilty of something like this. Listen to the hurts of people. People are hurting, and yours may be the only ears to hear their hurts.
What a word. Wonderful sermon. Yes, in this kingdom people really matter. It has been my fervent desire to minister to the needs of people especially those close to me and on the same mission with. It is highly possible to be physically close to a friend or a colleague or a spouse on the same ministry but millions of miles away to minister to their needs and they finally fall of.
May God Almighty be gracious onto us and help us as to save as many as possible for as the bible says none shall be lost.
Amen 🙏