Preaching part 2
When I think of ministry, I usually think about preaching. You know, because I'm a preacher. I've been told that I'm a pretty good public speaker, and I know I'm a decent wordsmith. These Rants, and the YouTube videos... at this time and place that's a lot of what I do. But that's not ALL of what I do. Because I'm also a father (and a step-father), and a son. A husband. A brother. I'm a worker. A friend. I'm a lot of different things to a lot of different people. And while I probably CAN preach (in the traditional standing at a pulpit sense) to most of those people... for the most part I don't feel the need to. Because for the most part, the most effective preaching that I can do is just loving those people that I am connected with. Just pouring myself into my family. My friends. My coworkers. Using wherever I find myself as my mission field. Preaching the gospel at all times, and sometimes even using my words. And, by the way, using your words doesn't mean trying to shove your concept of Jesus down someone's throat. That will merely ensure that whoever you're talking to will choke on it. Vomit it up. But you can preach Jesus without saying the word "Jesus." Because God is love. And you preach love... by putting your money where your mouth is. Jesus told His disciples what the greatest love a man can have is--laying your life down for your friends. And then He went to the cross and did just that. He didn't just tell us. He showed us. He made it real by putting His words into action. Look at 2 Corinthians 5:18, "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation." I think that's such an important concept. He reconciled us... and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. He gives to us... and we simply receive it and release it. It's not us trying to figure out what to do all the time. It's us just letting what HE has filled us up with come out. Naturally. By filling ourselves to overflowing with what He has already filled us up with! Being a witness is the best way to preach the gospel. Just sharing your experience. What you've seen, and heard, and felt. Sharing God's love because you've experienced it and you know it is too good to keep to yourself. Letting what's inside come out by knowing and believing that it's in there. That's how we spread the good news (or preach the gospel)! That's how we experience and enjoy the gift we've beeen given. We experience it and enjoy it by sharing it. By giving it away. The gift we've been given is love. Love is giving. Giving everything you have and everything you are to the people you come into contact with and not worrying about what they do with what you give them. Just letting them be THEM, and loving them no matter what. Letting God love the hell out of you, and loving Him back by loving the hell out of people. All people. Any people. All of creation. Being good to your environment--the people, places, and things that you come into contact with. Loving at all times. In all ways. That's true ministry. Letting the love and the light and the life of God come out of you. That's how we walk worthy of our calling. Because love comes in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes it's preaching from a pulpit. Sometimes it's telling someone, "I got your back." Just being there for someone. Letting them know you care. Preaching the gospel at all time to all creatures!