Short devotion: What is Ministry?

Matthew 9:35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. (NIV)

I love this Bible verse because it contains what ministry is all about. There are three main tasks that Jesus accomplishes here and throughout my many years of ministry I tried to fulfill them.

The first task was to teach the people about the Kingdom of God. This meant reading, sharing, and studying the ancient texts of the Jewish people. God had given them history, poetry, wisdom and prophecy through these texts. Christ’s task was to interpret those sacred words with a new understanding that would extend God’s blessing of salvation not just for the Jewish people but for the entire world.

Secondly, Jesus proclaimed the good news about God’s Kingdom which meant that He preached the word in local synagogues, as well as in marketplaces and homes. He preached to them the truth about God’s existence and how mindful God was of their lives. His preaching was radical because it turned their cozy spiritual world upside down where the poor were blessed and the powerful were rebuked, where the vulnerable were uplifted and the vain were undermined; where the weak were strengthened and the strong were diminished; where the first would be last and the least would be first in God’s eyes.

And the third task that Jesus was given was to heal broken people of their illnesses, injuries, and issues. He made the lame to walk and the blind to see. He liberated people from their demons and obsessions. He gave faith to the fearful and granted peace to the possessed. He healed hearts that were broken, minds that were mangled, bodies that were crippled, and souls that were enslaved.

So, this beautiful verse reveals to us all that Jesus set out to do: to teach the truth, preach the Word, and heal the people – three things that all who minister should also seek to accomplish.

Point to ponder: What kind of ministry has Christ called me to undertake and fulfill?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your ministry still continues in our world today. Grant us opportunities to share Your truth, spread Your Word, and offer healing to others. In Your Holy Name, we simply pray. Amen.

 

John Stuart is a retired Scottish pastor who now lives in Knoxville, Tennessee.