From The Inside

 

Now it is eonian life that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Him Whom Thou dost commission, Jesus Christ 

Johns Account 17: 3, Concordant New Testament 

A good friend made the comment the other day that I had been witness to the Lord working through me.  I had to agree.  In fact, I was the one who originally wrote to him with my experiences within a group of men at my local gym.  These guys are a mixed bag, some are believers while others still have not been introduced to the Father.  The amazing thing is that I have never made it a secret about what my religious beliefs are.  What you see is what you get with me.  I don't arrive at the gym with a bible in hand ready to steadfastly argue my faith like some rabid apologist.  No, I enter into this arena like any other person, simply to do my work.  Whatever happens after that is simply the Father working through me.  I have seen God doing some pretty amazing things in my time there.  But, that's what He does right?  I've referred to this as my ministry, and I have no doubt that it has become just that.  Traditional ministry has always been looked upon as mainstream church endorsed door knocking.  Members of a church congregation going out into a community and speaking the word of the Lord to the supposedly "unsaved."  The issue with this approach is that most people can see them coming a mile away.  For instead of engaging with people from equal ground, many involved in the church ministry present themselves as somehow "Holier than thou" in their approach to those they perceive as unchurched.  Their mission is clear, to speak the salvation of the Lord Jesus before these heathens end up in hell.  I always cringed at this approach.  Because if Christ Jesus has indeed bled and died on that cross for the forgiveness of sins, why do these church based ministries look upon those outside the church as sinners?  Is the intent really to bring others into the salvation of Jesus, or to add to the fiscal coffers of the church?  In most churches I've been involved with, part of the original intent of the outreach ministry was to draw people into the church on Sunday.  Eventually, this would hopefully equate into increased revenues when that plate was passed around once again.  So, the real question is, is God working through you or are you working your own ministry?  

"You are the light of the world.  A city located on top of a mountain can not be hid.  Neither are they burning a lamp and placing it under a peck measure, but on a lampstand, and it is shining to all those in the house.  Thus let your light shine in front of men, so that they may perceive your ideal acts and should glorify your Father who is in the heavens" 

Matthews Account 5: 14-16, Concordant New Testament 

Whenever I think of ministry, I immediately think of the life and ministry of Christ Jesus.  Being a Jew by birth, did Jesus focus His ministry on those of the Jewish faith?  No!  In fact, His detractors criticized Him for spending His time with "Tribute collectors and sinners" {Matthews Account 9:11}.  What was Jesus' response to this criticism?  "No need have the strong of a physician, but those having an illness" {Matthews Account 9:12}.  Jesus knew the nature of true ministry, He lived it each day.  I often wonder what people think of my time that I spend in the confines of the gym.  A professed Christian mingling amongst so many people who are obviously NOT religious.  A professed believer laughing and joking with those who seemingly do not know God.  Well, what is happening here is that the Father is interacting with His children through me.  This is God once again rekindling that relationship which He once had in the garden.  Honestly, this is His show all the way.  All I am doing is what I normally do each and every day.  Yet, through me the Father is reaching out to those who are sick at heart.  To those who need to feel His presence.  Jesus has proclaimed that WE are the light of the world {Matthews Account 5:14}.  I would argue that many more will be led to Christ through those who know Him than through any mainstream church door knocking ministry.  Many more will come to know the Father through those who know Him already.  I am among that crowd.  For it was through conversations with a good friend that I came to know a relationship with the Father.  It is also through me that others will come to see Him.  

~Scott~