Across the Pastor’s Desk

By the Rev. Jill Marin, Grace Christian Church

Ministry means serving. How can you serve in the kingdom of God? Sometimes, we may think there is nothing we can do, or that someone else is more qualified than we are. Someone else would do it better or say it better. Someone else would have more time for it than we do. Or, that we can’t fulfill God’s plan for our lives because of all the wrong things we’ve done. Child of God, there is a special purpose for your life, and you can accomplish it.

There is no one who has been through exactly what you have been through in life. No one else has your experiences and the insights you have gained from them. Some of those experiences are positive and some are negative. We learn from them all. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28. God will make the best come out of all our experiences. That means good or bad, happy or sad, he will use them all for good. They make us the people we are. They help us to understand situations and to have compassion on others. Often, we are the harshest judges of ourselves. Do not disqualify yourself from the work of God because of your experiences. Ask forgiveness from past mistakes. Repent and ask forgiveness of current sins. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9. We must also forgive ourselves and move ahead.

There is no one who is made by God just like you. Embrace the person you are created to be. Psalms 139:13-14 says, “For you have possessed my reins: you have covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise you; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are your works; and that my soul knows right well.” There is no one else like you in the world, and I mean no one! He created you with love and care in your mother’s womb. Learn to be comfortable in your own skin, embrace the person that God has created. That person is beautiful and made in God’s own image. Don’t try to be someone different, but harness the person you are and let yourself be used by God in a unique way.

God has a very special plan for your life. “The Lord has called me from the womb; from the womb of my mother has he made mention of my name.” Isaiah 49:1. There is an important purpose for your life. No one else has your particular gifts and talents. No one else can relate to someone else like you can. No one else will see a situation exactly as you do. “For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.” 1 Corinthians 12:2. You are a member of the body of Christ, placed in a special position. “But now has God set the members every one of them in the body, as it has pleased him.” 1 Corinthians 12:18. No one else can do the work that God has ordained for your life! No one else can fill your spot in the body of Christ.

Don’t know what your part in the body of Christ is? Pray, and God will guide you and direct you. Consider your talents. Are there some you have been hiding? Ask your pastor if he or she has any guidance for you. Everyone has a ministry, and ministry means serving. How can you serve others today? Are you willing to serve in an area that is behind the scenes, perhaps helping the body in a way no one else will ever know about? God knows and He will bless you abundantly for your obedience. Have a blessed and purposeful day.