GLORIFYING GOD: (cont’d)
6. Through our preaching and ministry – In an earlier blog (Spiritual principles #4) I listed the crowns or rewards we can receive from God which are mentioned in the Bible. One of those was the crown of rejoicing which is primarily for preachers and pastors who faithfully guide their local church. You can’t preach the word of God unless God calls you to that ministry. I’ve always been a little bit jealous of that because I know that is one crown that’s out of my reach since I’m not a preacher. In studying God’s Word I realized I was wrong. God is fair to everyone so all believers have an equal shot at every crown in heaven. God isn’t going to have a crown reserved for an exclusive and select group of people to the exclusion of everyone else. There is no country club mentality in heaven. All of us are equal in God’s sight. This crown is available to anyone because it also applies to church deacons and other church leaders. It applies to Sunday School teachers, choir directors and even those who conduct Bible study. If you want this crown go get it.
People fail to realize the crown of glory is also for believers who have a particular calling from God, a personal ministry, where they do the work of God for his glory. Missionaries will receive the crown of glory because God calls them to that ministry. Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950 as a ministry attending to the needs of the poor in Calcutta, India, where she worked all her adult life. Do you think Mother Teresa deserves the crown of glory for her work? You bet she does and when we get to heaven we’ll see she has it. Dr. Albert Schweitzer built and ran a hospital in rural Africa all his life because of his love for God. That’s what God called him to do. Dr. Schweitzer has also received a crown of glory in heaven.
Ask the Holy Spirit for your own ministry that touches your heart and serves God at the same time. The Lord gives each of us good works to do. We just need to pray for God to enlighten us what we’re to do for his glory. God won’t be shy about telling you. I know people who have been hospital volunteers over thirty years to God’s glory. That was their ministry. I know a lady in her nineties who volunteers every week at a local food bank (she won’t tell me her age). God moves other people to help prepare and serve food for the homeless both in shelters and on the street. There’s no end to the ways we can serve God in order to bring honor, praise and glory to God for his love and mercy.
1 Peter 4:11 – If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7. Through our fruitbearing – In my blog, Spiritual principles #4, I discussed the crown of rejoicing which God will give to all believers who have been faithful and effective in witnessing for Christ. God will reward all who witness for Christ but even more will be given to those who are good at it. I’m thinking of evangelists like Billy Graham. That man probably brought thirty million people to Christ. Can you you imagine the treasure Billy Graham had waiting on him when he returned to his maker? You can be sure Christ told Billy, “Well done good and faithful servant.” In the final analysis that’s what I want too. I just want God to be pleased with me and my works done on earth to his glory. I’ll plan and do whatever is necessary to achieve that goal. 80% of the battle of life is just showing up.
In my zeal for the Lord I’ve studied God’s Word. I’m equipped and ready to witness for Christ. The problem is nobody has beat a path to my door to hear my witness. Those with a passion for God never have enough people to witness to so it’s up to us to find innovative ways to share our witness. If we don’t we won’t bear much fruit for the Lord. We won’t be as fruitful as we’d like. In my case, I purchase Christian tracts a thousand at a time and I leave them wherever I go. I leave them in doctor’s offices, department stores, in Walmart bathrooms and I hand them out to whoever will take one off me. I give myself a daily quota of Christian tracts to give out, although the pandemic has slowed me down tremendously.
My Christian blog site, www.onemoreforjesus.net, is what I call, “passive witnessing.” I sow the gospel seed by urging others to study God’s Word and witness for Christ. I pray that my blog site will bear fruit by leading at least one person to the truth of God’s Word and salvation unto eternal life. The name of my blog site tells you my ministry for God. You can’t be effective for God by accident. You have to come up with a plan and establish goals if you want to be effective for the Lord. I’m going to reveal my soul to you and tell you my secret desire. My goal is to help save 100 people unto eternal life. God says we’re to work in his harvest field to save as many as we can. I’ll be happy with saving just one person but of course I want as many people in heaven with me as I can get. Not a day goes that I don’t think about all those lost souls in the world dying every day and going straight to hell for the lack of a witness.
John 15:8 – (Jesus speaking) – By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit.
Witnessing for Christ