3 John 1:5, “Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; and they have testified to your love before the church.”
This is a beautiful sentiment of ministry in the early church. The Apostle John had learned received the heart of ministry from his relationship with Jesus, and he had learned to practice ministry by watching as Jesus moved comfortably among the most religious, most elite, as well as the most sinful, and most downtrodden. When John saw other believers behave in the same way as his Savior, he could not help but praise them.
He saw ministry to one another and ministry to the stranger as pure examples of faith. He said to them, “you are acting faithfully.” John went on to write in v. 11, “the one who does good is of God.” Ministry is using your time, talents, or resources to meet the needs of others, treating them as you would be treated. Wherever we see that occur it must be of God. The person who does this regularly, with joy, and for the purpose of Christ receiving glory is giving evidence of genuine saving faith.
Your Sunday School class is a great place for you to develop the heart of ministry and find avenues for ministering to other people. It is within that kind of small group that you will hear about the needs of others. Once a need is known then you can ask God how your time, energy, or resources could be used by Him to care for that other person. He might ask you to commit to pray for them. He might ask you to spend time with them or for them. He might ask you to provide the use of your home, the use of your car, some money, or some other resources you possess to help alleviate their needs. Those who know Jesus and spend time with Jesus will have the inclination to be ministers to others, because that is His Spirit.
How can you develop a pattern or practice of regular ministry to others? Use the 3 L’s:
- Look – be aware of those around you
- Listen – be attentive to others as they talk
- Love – be selfless in your commitment as brothers and sisters in Christ
By His Grace and For His Glory,
Pastor Mark 3
