2 Corinthians 5:18–20 Now
all these things are from God,
who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of
reconciliation, namely, that God was
in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses
against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore,
we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us;
we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Some questions concerning my last Devo, which discussed ministering
within your “giftings”, surfaced that I believe should be answered. Just like
the enemy has a strategy in his approach to the war, we also need to seek God
for His strategy through us. What is very important is that we realize whatever
that strategy is; the goal is always reconciliation. There are as many
ministries as there are individuals, that is how powerful our God is, however,
in the end, they all have one goal – reconcile individuals to God and to each
other. I have learned over the time I have spent in ministry some simple truths
that help me remain focused. Please understand, knowing these truths are far
easier than practicing them…I have learned that! 
* Concept of Strategy = K.I.S. –
Keep It Simple! No matter the ministry if we apply some simple truths we will
find the ministry God has led us to far more fulfilling, which will lead to
peace, not burnout.
Consider these:
Personalizing versus Reinventing: Each one of us needs to have
ownership of our ministry, but many spend so much time reinventing, so it can
look original. That is silly because what Solomon said is true, there is
nothing original! What’s important is to take what is out there, digest it, and then
apply it with your personality. God made each of us unique.
Convicted Living versus Self-Serving: Spending time with the
Holy Spirit, in the Word and praying, so that whatever you do is coming forth
from a deep understanding that God led you to this, not your ego.
Ego creates
an agenda mentality and guarding “our territory.” God desires us to be
very firm in what we believe we are doing, yet hold it loosely, so He can tweak
it.
Massing Troops versus Bubble Living: This is why discipleship
is essential! You cannot do it all! God desires us to pour ourselves into
others and then set them free to follow the ministry with God their way!
Cloning is not God’s desire; it is our way to control. God desires conforming,
molding our character into Christ’s, while keeping our personality. God does
not want us to build our ministry “bubble” and try to get everyone in there with us.
Taking Advantage of Momentum versus Marketing: We are not “selling”
anything! Our goal is to lay out God’s Truth concerning reconciliation, and
then allow people to decide for themselves. So we can use the culture, the
holiday, and what is popular as bridges to communicate God’s message, but we never
change the message. That’s what makes our ministry so easy, it’s not our message, it
is God’s!
If people have a problem with that, their issue is with God, not us.
The So What: Have you taken time to evaluate what you do in
your life? How much of it is influenced by the world? Do you see your job as a
job, or a ministry? Do you believe you can do almost anything and God can use
it? If so, why? If not, why?
