The Christian Ministry

As many of you are preparing for the ministry, I thought it would be good for us to reflect on some of the words I am reading from Charles Bridges, The Christian Ministry. He writes in his chapter on the qualifications for ministry:

“To fill the Ministerial office with a degree of satisfaction and benefit commensurate with its capabilities, or with the desire of a heart awake to its importance, we must be all that it demands – men of God, perfect, completely furnished to every good work. This an elevated standard. He that aims highest will most approximate to it.”

How many of us actively pursue perfection in ministry? It is so easy to do the minimum. We know what's expected of us, and we accomplish that. However, that is not what the Bible demands. It demands our all, only possible with a realization that God is our all sufficiency. How often do we do what we think is best, trusting that God will accept it because it comes from us, talented gifted workers in His ministry? To often we make the mistake of Uzzah and assume that our hands are cleaner than the mud.

But God is good, and He has promised to complete the work he began in us. He will enable us to handle all He throws our way (1 Cor. 10:13), and will draw us to Christ through His discipline. Thanks be to God.