It's great when you're able to "check out" for some R&R, but if you're on the field and you're faced with someone in crisis or someone opening up for the first time, and there isn't another believer to refer them to, you know it's "your job". The need becomes the call, and there you are.
It's great to minister from our strength. When we're feeling rested, had a great quiet time, feel close to the Lord, we feel effective in our ministry. Ministry from our overflow feels great!
But at other times - maybe most of the time, where you are - God calls us to minister from our weaknesses. He calls us to have a word for someone else when we desperately need one ourself ... to give that can of Pepsi to another person when we've waited for it a month ... to encourage someone when we're feeling depressed. At those times, we see His power made perfect in our weakness, and we see His glory come through.
Perhaps more than anything, at those times we know that "our" ministry isn't ours at all, but His ... and it's not about us, but Him. He is faithful to His task, and while we can do things to be effective vessels, it's really not about us at all.
Are you being called upon today to minister when you feel weak yourself? Is checking out for some spiritual R&R not an option? Draw upon the strength He provides, and offer what you have. Our God does amazing things with loaves and fishes.
2 Cor. 4:7-18
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you. 13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you. 13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
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