Yes, we are created anew in Christ Jesus “to do good works”, and the passage even tells us that God has planned out these good works in advance for us. In other words, He has a ministry for you and all you need to do is “join in the work and labor in it”.
Now there are so many “good works” we could do that we can’t even count them all. We could carry meals to the sick, teach Sunday School, help out by watching the children of a young mother or by cleaning the home of elderly person. We could start a ministry to people confined at home or become a pastor and preach the gospel, or a thousand other things. The opportunities are abundant. Maybe you are already thinking of things you can do to help others and serve them in love.
One thing to consider is this: true ministry springs out of the gospel of Jesus Christ and wants to give the gospel of Jesus Christ to others.
What I mean by this is that as we look at the gospel, we see Jesus serving us by giving up His life on the cross, and that is the message that we want to show others by our lives, and teach to others through our words.
Matthew 20:26-28 NLT But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, (27) and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. (28) For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
In God’s kingdom, those who are first are those who serve others, those who lay down their lives for others, those who give others the gospel. Why? Because it is what we have seen Jesus do.
Jesus came to this earth not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom (payment to recover) for many. We are to serve others like that. Notice this final passage:
John 13:3-5; 12-15 NLT Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. (4) So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, (5) and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. (12) After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? (13) You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. (14) And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. (15) I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.
Do you see Jesus there with a towel around His waist, stepping down to wash the feet of His disciples?
That’s the God Who made feet now washing the dirt off of them. This is the Lord of Glory Who is now acting like a servant.
It’s what we are called to do, too.
And do you see the gospel in John 13:3-15? Jesus was fellowshipping with His disciples, then He got up and took off His robe and put on a towel, then washed His disciples’ feet and returned back to the head of the table.
This is just like Jesus who was fellowshipping with His Father in Heaven, then He took off His royal robes, came to this earth and put on a human body. He went to the cross to wash us from our sins, then He rose from the dead and returned back to the right hand of God. He served us on the cross, ransoming us from our sins, washing us in His blood.
And this is the message we are to bring to others, and doing so can be absolutely addicting. Stephanus and his family were addicted to it, maybe you will be too!
Finally, I want to encourage you to consider mentoring with us here at Setting Captives Free. Many come to us who are addicted to media and this is a place where you can minister to your heart's content to as many as you want. As you finish up this course in the next couple of days, please pray about ministering with us in this way. We have a 30-day mentorship course you can take that will help teach you how to minister to others. It’s absolutely thrilling to see God change hearts through the gospel. I’m totally addicted to it, happily so. I hope you’ll join me. Please download this pastor/elder approval form if you wish to continue to the mentorship course. Question 5. Are you praying about continuing on to the mentorship course with Setting Captives Free? Why or why not?
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