John 3:14-15 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

The focus of all ministry must be to lift up Christ. He was lifted up on the cross, and of course we are not to crucify Him again, (Hebrews 6:4-6) but we are to lift Him as our standard, our focus. There is a great deal of man-centered ministry that goes on, and much of it seems very admirable to our eyes, but unless it exalts Jesus Christ, it is ultimately worthless. Feeding the hungry is admirable and indeed commanded in the Bible, but unless it is done in the Name of Jesus it merely delays for a little while their ultimate destruction. There is a lot of acrimony among even Christian groups, most of it stemming from a lack of understanding of gifting and calling, but those on the “evangelical” side must have God’s love and compassion as their motive, and those on the “social ministry” side must be clear that they do what they do because of Jesus.

I have always been on the “evangelical” side of that fence, but even so there is the real danger of focusing on bringing people in to increase the church, rather than to introduce them to Christ. And any local church has the temptation to focus on their own comfort and convenience, rather than on communicating the Gospel and raising up disciples. Right now we are seeking to identify gifts and ministries so that everyone may be actively involved, but I’ve got to be very clear that our motive and our focus must be Jesus Christ, rather than anything less. We are to serve one another because we are serving Christ, not because service is expected of us. One person is of no more value than another, but all have value because God loved us so much as to give His own Son for them. Everyone and every­thing must be viewed through the lens of Jesus Christ. Only then will we see clearly and minister effectively.

Father, thank You for this clear reminder. Thank You again for all You are doing in this church, for how You are correcting and encouraging and guiding and strengthening. Help us all receive what You are doing and follow You with joy, not lagging behind and not running off to the side, so that all of Your plans for us may be fulfilled, on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!