Posts Tagged ‘motivation’

Motivated to do what?

Wednesday, December 17th, 2008

Read this article from reformation21.org. It encourages people, especially so-called “reformed” christians to not only seek personal reformation but also move that towards mercy ministry.

However it is not my intention in the scope of this article to present the Biblical case for mercy ministry, but to bring our attention the fact that God constantly commanded His people to be in this work even when others are neglecting it. So this should tell us that there will be a tendency of risk for both the individual believer and for a local church to become ineffective in this God honoring work. In particularly I have become increasingly convicted that this work should be fervently done by the young Reformed Christian. Why do I say this? Because by definition most young reformed Christian have spent the majority of their energy and time on understanding the Scriptures, (which of course is of the utmost importance, as well as being able of effectively defend and communicate Gospel truth): but since the “lion’s share” of our time goes rightly to these spiritual disciplines, we can some times become deficient in other spiritual exercises such as mercy ministry.

God is not only transforming your heart, he prepared you to do good works with that new heart.

Thanks be to God!

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Impress or Serve

Wednesday, April 16th, 2008


Been listening to Eldership training classes that were held a few years back.  Lately have been a time of reflection and thinking about my relationship with God, where do I stand with him and in relationship with the church, what roles do we play…  I heard this in one of the Sovereign grace MP3s about eldership.

In ministry a question I was asked was do I do it to impress or serve?  To whom do you do the things that you do?  For whose glory?  This is the downfall of many ministries.  Whom do you serve?  That question was asked the Israelites many times over – Elijah asked choose for yourselves this day whom you serve… it was asked to the early church… our motivations, whatever they may be, may still move the gospel as Paul says in Philippians, but we will not be blessed.

Are you in the ministry so that the kingdom of God will be advanced… so that the name of Jesus will be glorified… so that people will praise God for his creation, salvation, greatness, love, etc…. or are you ministering so that people will pat you on the back?  are you serving so that you can achieve titles, accolades, self-justification…  to whom do you serve?  That is my thought for today…. 

Proud man pursues humility by the grace of God…  If we are to truly prepare for ministry… it is in the word and prayer… it is not by our strength, might, intellect… instead it is by the spirit of God.  Let this be your prayer and mine.

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