Devotional thought of the Day

²⁵  God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. ²⁶  This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. ²⁷  For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. ²⁸  So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. ²⁹  That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me. Colossians 1:25-29 (NLT)

⁶  “I have made you known to those you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me. They have obeyed your word, ⁷  and now they know that everything you gave me comes from you. ⁸  I gave them the message that you gave me, and they received it; they know that it is true that I came from you, and they believe that you sent me. ⁹  “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those you gave me, for they belong to you. ¹⁰  All I have is yours, and all you have is mine; and my glory is shown through them. John 17:6-10 (TEV) 

291  The Lord has shown us this refinement of Love: he has let us conquer the world for him. He is always so humble that he has wished to limit himself to making it possible… To us He has granted the easiest and most agreeable part: taking action and gaining the victory. (1)

It seems there is one more blog this week about humility, and the role it plays in our relationship with God our Father. Our relationship with God, what some would call our faith, But ministry, like reconciliation and faith, it doesn’t start with us.

It is about Christ.

His humility, His gift to us of sharing His work with us. of working through us.

The words of Escriva in my devotions this morning sent dozens of passages through my mind, from the Carmen Christi hymn of Philippians 2:5-10, to Isaiah 52-53, to Psalm 139, to the description of Jesus going into hell to preach to those captive there in Peter’s writings, to the very promises of the Incarnation.

Why would Jesus share His ministry, His work of reconciling, of redeeming the world, of restoring in us what we were created to be, the children of God?  What do we have to bring to His work, that He already isn’t?  Can we love as purely?  Sacrifice ourselves for the sake of others?  Can we speak as eloquently, or heal those who are broken?  Do we have the wisdom, the knowledge, and the depth of love?

Why does Jesus share with us the work to achieve that which the Father desires?

Why would He humbly step aside, and give to us, His people, the responsibility to ‘take action and gain the victory?”

Why would He give us the opportunity to share in His glory, in His work glorifying the Father?

Why would He trust us to work with all we are, to present every man complete as they are joined to Him?

it is something incredible to contemplate, to wonder about the love of God that is shown to us in giving us this ministry of reconciliation.  Think through this day the relationship you have with God, where He would entrust you with that which He desires. Think of how He must see us, as we are joined to Christ.  Consider how complete God’s work is, a true masterpiece in His opinion, as He united us to Christ’s death and resurrection in our baptism.

This trust God would place in us, as Jesus entrusts to us (and we are empowered to do this work by the Holy Spirit!) with His own work, with bringing the message of His love, His mercy, His grace.

That is why ministry isn’t about law, why serving others isn’t a command, it is a moment of unity with Christ, of walking with Him, of the unity of His resurrection and ours, lived out in our very lives. It is about the gift of the Holy Spirit, where we do this work, not by our own strength, but the Holy Spirit working in us, revealing the glory of God at work in us. as we find ourselves striving to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Even as God humbles Himself to allow us to be partners in ministry, He ensures the work is done through us…. amazing….

Ministry? It is about walking humbly with a God, who humbles Himself to walk with us.

(1)  Escriva, Josemaria (2011-01-31). Furrow (Kindle Locations 1400-1403). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.