Seeking the ministry we need
'In these times, we have little choice but to turn to
God's faithfulness. I pray that we will make this our
choice.'
Please commit yourself and your church to
prayer that God would give you His understanding of those
whose lives and choices lead them away from Christ Jesus
and His people. Bishop
John (ahealthychurch-transforminglife
p.3)
The Three Essential Movements in the Life of Every
Christian
Part III - Moving outward
'Seeking the Ministry we need'
So far we have examined two Essential Movements:
1. Moving Inward - Seeking the Transformation We Need
2. Moving Upward - Seeking the Intimacy We Need
Now we come to the final instalment in this series of
articles on Prayer:
Richard J. Foster: Prayer and Seeking the
Kingdom
Transformation and intimacy both cry out for ministry. We
are led through the furnace of God's purity not just for our
own sake but for the sake of others. We are drawn up into
the bosom of God's love not merely to experience acceptance,
but also so we can give his love to others.
The world writhes under the pain of its arrogance and
self-sufficiency. We can make a difference, if we will. In
earlier days we tried to serve out of our spiritual
bankruptcy, and we failed. We now know that ministry must
flow out of abundance.
Bernard of Clairvaux writes,
'If then you are wise, you will show yourself rather as a
reservoir than as a canal. For a canal spreads abroad water
as it receives it, but a reservoir waits until it is filled
before overflowing, and thus communicates, without loss to
itself, its superabundant water'.
In the Church at the present day, we have many canals, few
reservoirs.
|
