Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion is Luke 8:1-3.

 

“Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.”  Luke 8:1-3.  (Emphasis added.) 

 

As I read this short Scripture which precedes the Parable of the Sower, the temptation is to view it as unimportant and to skip it.  What can we learn from it?  We may think that it is only of general historical value to identify people with Jesus.

 

But, I soon saw the verbs which popped out at me:  “proclaiming”, “preaching”, and contributing”.  I also saw that the sentence starting with “The twelve were with Him, and also …” which is summarized by another verb:  “following”.

 

Ministry is a team effort.  There are those who proclaim and preach.  There are those who follow.  There are those who contribute.

 

We are reminded of 1 Corinthians Chapter 12, especially the following verses 4 through 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 27, and 28.    “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.  And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.  There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.  But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  …  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.  …  For the body is not one member, but many.  …  But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.  …  And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”;  or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”  …  Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.  And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.” 

 

Thus, we should value and appreciate the gifts and work of each member of the body of Christ.  Ministry is a team effort.  

 

But, we also see that there are “varieties of ministries”. 

 

Our churches may perform primarily the preaching ministry on Sunday.  But, I hope the preacher and other leaders of the church value and appreciate the other ministeries in which their members are involved. 

 

Here are some examples.  A good friend of mine is involved in a prison ministry as a chaplain.  He also visits and takes special needs children on fun hikes.  Another friend operates a Christian mission which feeds, clothes, cleans, and otherwise helps the homeless.  A Christian message is given before every meal.  Although I am currently an inactive member of the Gideons, I appreciate their ministry and do support them.

I am sure that each of you also can list ministeries that you particularly appreciate and support in one way or another. 

 

We lead some of these ministeries.  We follow as members of some of these ministeries.  We contribute to some of these ministeries.  We encourage some of these ministeries.  We pray for some of these ministeries.  We say good words to others about some ministeries. 

 

In conclusion, maybe, we can compare each ministry to a sports game.  There are two groups.  There are those who are on the field playing the game.  The rest of us are cheerleaders.

 

If you are not playing the game, are you at least a good cheerleader?  Do you cheer well?  Do you encourage the players on the field?  Do you say good things to others about the team?  Do you pray for the team?  Do you otherwise support the team by at least attending the game?  Do you buy a ticket and maybe popcorn?

 

If you are playing in the game, are you a good teammate?  Do you appreciate what each teammate does?  Do you pass the ball well?  Do you block well?  Do you encourage and give good advice to your fellow teammates?  Do you cheer for your fellow teammates?  Do you sign autographs, mingle with the fans, and sincerely thank the fans?  

 

1 Thessalonians 5:11:
“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”