Are You Qualified to Serve?
Some question whether they’re qualified to serve the Lord, because of a narrative that says, “Only special people can minister.” Without realizing it, some of them almost disqualify themselves by not seeing themselves as being special. Let’s start on this latter premise. If you are a child of God, you are special. It’s not based on other people’s opinions, your talents, or behavior; it’s based on His unconditional, perfect love. If you were not special, why did Jesus come in the first place?
John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.
Belief is the basis for qualification on our part. For what we are qualified is God’s part. Our ability to serve Him comes from His grace, which we received by faith. His unmerited favor enables us to do the things we could not do on our own (grace). It is not predicated on intelligence or natural abilities. He doesn’t need the so called brightest, most educated people on the planet. None of that stuff is very relevant. Very often, He uses the least likely candidates. He used fishermen, and scholars alike to get the ball rolling. Of course, there were a number of those with colorful pasts included in that number.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD” (NASB).
Everyone Has a Ministry
In some circles, certain people are called ministers. Truth be told, anyone who is a disciple of Jesus Christ is a minister, because everyone is called to minister. How each one serves will take different shapes and forms. Where ever you find yourself is a place of ministry. While there may be various gifts and callings (see Ephesians 4:7-13; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:27-31), everyone does have the ministry of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing (counting) their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
When you share the Gospel with others, you are exercising the ministry of reconciliation. You’re not holding their past sins against them; rather, you are seeking to reconcile them to God, Who makes them new creatures. Love compels us to connect them to Him, while seeing them freed from sin, and the snares of the devil in the process.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
It is important to not get caught up in titles; instead, get caught up in Him. Allow Holy Spirit to lead you, as the Lord places you in the Body of Christ where it pleases Him.
In essence, everyone is called minister the very thing Jesus told Paul in Acts 26:18,
“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me.”
