If you are a lay minister, you can still adjust your life to serve God faithfully without repercussions on your professional life. You may not have the opportunity to put in as many hours as you want, but it’s better to do something than to do nothing.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:14 that you, as a child of God, are the light of the world. That means that to deal with the darkness in the world, you, the light, ought to shine. Shining requires you to be intentional about witnessing Christ Jesus everywhere you go.
When Jesus told His disciples that they must preach the gospel, in their minds, He knew that they did not fully grasp what He said. However, Jesus understood that His words would be written down for billions of people, including you and me, to access and obey. Don’t be a reserved gospel minister who cares little about God’s work.
Jesus is the light of the world. When He became the Word incarnate, He appeared as the light that shines in the darkness. Why? Because the world is dark without Him? Have you ever wondered why sin is continually increasing in the world? It’s because Jesus is not expressed in that area of life. But these things ought to change. And who can lead that change? It is the believers in Christ—you and me.
Jesus told the men who followed Him that they would no longer catch fish on the sea but would fish people. In other words, their mission as fishermen changed from sea-fishing to men-fishing: the same mission but a different method. Could it be that the area God is calling you into ministry with may not necessarily take you out of your career?
Many differences among ourselves are to help complement one another, not to stir up conflicts. Navigate your relationships with others well.
Ephesians 5:16 says that as a believer, you must make the most of every opportunity. Why? Because the days are evil. Hence, living wisely in this perverse generation as ambassadors of Christ is very paramount.
It is not always easy. But with God on your side, it is well with you. Witness Jesus well wherever you are, no matter the situation. If he was with Paul and had helped his work remain relevant in this generation, then indeed, He has not neglected your secret labours. He will reward you well.
Do not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ. It is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes, including you and me. If the Gospel has helped you and changed your life for good, then don’t be afraid to stand for and defend it.
Please be careful to speak nicely to people you meet, especially for the first time. Remember that the Bible encourages us to be hospitable to strangers because we don’t know whether we may encounter angels unawares (see Hebrews 13:2). People are valuable; don’t treat them as trash cans.
Do not be shy about proclaiming the name of Jesus to people you meet in your daily walk of life. You might wait forever if you want to get millions of dollars before holding crusades. Getting one soul saved each day can contribute to thousands accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and personal Saviour within your lifetime.
Because the salvation dimension of God’s grace has appeared to all men, nobody has an excuse to say, “I didn’t hear the gospel, so I didn’t know I have to get born again” before death or on the second coming of Christ.
