2021 Daily Devotion - Day 288

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"I believe God wants us to dream, and to dream big, because He’s a big God who wants to do big things, and He wants to do them through us." (John Maxwell, Put Your Dream to the Test)

Too many Christ followers simply watch the church do ministry. It is almost like we are at a sporting event, sitting in the stands, and cheering on the team. Many believe it is the pastor’s role to do ministry. And yet as Lutherans, Martin Luther taught the concept of the “priesthood of all believers”. This means every believer is a minister of Christ and was ordained through their baptism.

So, what is your ministry? I am not talking about serving, but ministry. Every Christian has a ministry whether they know it or not. You have been given certain gifts that need to be put to work. Ministry is different than serving. Ministry must be designed in such a way in which it has the purpose and potential of bringing others into a saving relationship with Jesus.

Now I want to kick it up a notch. What will your legacy of ministry be? What can you do for Christ which will impact lives after you are in heaven – a ministry that will continue into the future to bring others to Christ? This is precisely what the Apostle Paul did, and we are still talking about it.

Romans 15:20 ESV
And thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation.

The Apostle Paul’s ministry legacy involved many things. However, one of the most impactful was to bring the Gospel of Jesus to the Gentile (Non-Jewish) world. He reached the Greeks in Asia Minor and started churches there, and it is the basis of the New Testament. In other words, he did something “big” for Christ’s mission in the world.

So, in this new year, start praying and asking, “what ‘big thing’ can I do for Christ?” Invite someone to be your Christian mentor so you can dream a big dream for Jesus and carry it out.

Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, You dreamed big when You created everything around us. You dreamed big when You took on human flesh to come and rescue us from sin and death. Help us in this new year to dream a big dream for Jesus and to make it a reality. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
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