A Life In Ministry

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach unless they are sent?  As it is written:  "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"  But they have not all obeyed the gospel.  For Isaiah says, "LORD, who has believed our report?"  So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10: 14-17 NKJV

I've heard it said of certain people, "He/she had a great ministry."  Is it necessarily only the pastors and preachers who are given to teach and preach the gospel of our Lord?  I feel that this kind of thinking would deny us of those among us who truly have a heart for, and a message from the Lord.  So it is, that Gods hand is not so short that he cannot use someone to relay his word to others.  Throughout the scriptures we see ordinary people speaking the word of the Lord to those who would listen.  From Moses and Jonah to the apostle Paul, throughout history God has used ordinary people among us to speak to the masses.  Paul, one of the greatest defenders of the gospel the world has ever known, would have hardly been considered a follower of Jesus.

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest.  And asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.  As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.  Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul,Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
Acts 9: 1-4 NKJV

Does this sound like the Paul who spoke so vehemently of the work of Christ Jesus?  Breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord?  In fact, as Saul journeyed to Damascus, he planned on bringing a few church members back with him, in chains.  A wonderful candadite for Gods ministry.  However, it is for this reason why I feel that Saul was chosen.  As the world would soon see, this former persecutor of the followers of Jesus would soon become a great defender of his message.
Is it possible, then, if God could use a persecutor of the church such as Saul, that he can use any one of us to spread his word?  How lonely and void a world would it be if only those who were "Anointed" were tasked with revealing Gods message?  How much would we miss out on?  For ultimately it is not mans "Anointing" that produces a ministry.  No, a true ministry begins when God whispers his word into someones heart.
One of the greatest honors I've heard said of my mother, who recently passed, was that she had a great "ministry."  However, it was not until God called her home that I began to see just how great of a ministry this was.  When people would ask my mom to pray for them, she did.  I know this, because I was there.  When someone needed a encouraging word, she was there.  My mother was never one to tear down, but to build someone up with kindness and encouragement.  I will never know just how many people she touched until that day we meet again.

~Scott~