I have been wondering what is the meaning of true ministry--at first, I thought that this means preaching and teaching to people, having a platform to actually reach others to God or becoming as famous as Martin Luther or Peter, Paul and John. The very names of whom speak also the nature of Christ in them, that He was a reformer, evangelist, teacher, prophet and lover of our souls. Ministry have taken a new meaning apart from what God intended it to be, it is preaching and teaching to people every Sunday morning or evening which only a few people could accomplish.

But as we look into the Bible what really a ministry is, everyone could in fact become ministers apart from Bible teachers and pastors. Jesus does not call everyone to become a Bible teacher or pastor and in fact the writer of the Gospel of Mark was not even mentioned to have preached or taught people but he was a minister to the Apostles, a helper of Barnabas and Paul and a disciple of Peter. Because he learned from the masters, the servants of the Lord about the first hand account on Jesus, he was used by the Lord to write one of the four everlasting Gospels of Jesus Christ.

Some people define ministry as their function and attribute for instance those Christians who work in the government see themselves as ministers of God in the government whether they serve as Cabinet secretaries, senators, congressmen, or office worker. Some Christians also think that ministry is leading a quiet life and minding their own business so that they could share their goods (food, clothing and money) to others. I believe ministry should not be defined narrowly, and the aforementioned examples could all be correct. One could be a Bible teacher, a pastor, a prophet, an evangelist or apostle and yes they do accomplish and perform an office or ministry.

While others could also be in secular vocations such as being a school teacher, principal, janitor, office worker, administrator, doctor, musician, scientist, businessman and a politician and still be a minister of Christ. The ministry of Christians, however diverse as it is from offering the use of our gifts, talents, skills, time and money can be condensed into one word, we become His ambassadors in every and different situations in life. It is a state of being and not merely a state of function or doing that we become ministers of Christ. As it is stated in  2 Corinthians 5:20, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us” (NASB).

The word ambassador from this verse comes from the Greek word presbeuo which means, elder, senior, representative, preacher. We preach Christ not just from the pulpit, or attending church services but it is our state of being…that is we are truly conformed in Christlikeness. I heard one pastor say that the best translation he had ever read is not a King James Bible nor an NIV Bible but Christians who are like Christ. Each Christian are called to be an ambassador for Christ, we are His witnesses before this world. It is in fact more important to be a living witness, a living epistle of God than to be witnessing to people about salvation when we are only doing this out of necessity and not joy of service.

We are now Christ’s Body when He ascended on high and we are tasked to continue to do what He had done. He gave us a promise that the things which He has done we will do and even greater works than these because He already ascended on High. What could be these ministries that ambassadors are supposed to be doing? Isaiah writes in chapter 58 the various ministries which all Christians are supposed to be doing.

“No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. “Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. Then when you call, the Lord will answer. 'Yes, I am here,' he will quickly reply. “Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors! Feed the hungry,
and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden,
like an ever-flowing spring.” Isa 58:6-11 (NLT)

Every one of us from the greatest to the smallest can participate and do works of justice. We can visit those in the prisons, those who are sick in the hospitals, those who are lonely and burdened and we can cook for the mother who is so busy for her small children or the new visitor who needs shelter. We can let the oppressed go free, yes we can help stop modern day slavery from those in the sweatshops and brick shops in India, China and to our small communities who use little children and don’t give them the right food, clothing and salary. We can defy and protest to the Saudi Arabian government which never stops to think and do right by punishing their own people who oppress and rape their domestic servants and yes to every government and community that condones slavery, we can become His channels of freedom by setting the captives free, literally.

Then we can preach to them Jesus and bring them to shelters where there is food and training to have a job so that they can become useful to the community. All Christians can do this because God is in the business of meeting human needs; He don’t close the doors whether to fellow believers who have fallen to sin or to sinners who are drowning in their problems, God is always available because He is our Refuge and our Strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore as His ambassadors we are to be present and available to our neighbours and those who call us, those whom God touches us and those whom God is pointing to us that we should minister to. Therefore the Lord expounding on Isaiah 58 again reiterated it in Matthew 25: 34-40

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
 
Everyone can serve with his bare hands, not just mowing the lawns, cutting grasses or ordering seats and tables, or cleaning the rags. In everyday life, Christians can touch people from all walks of life just by standing and doing what is right because “the fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever” (Isa 32:17). Ministry is not just exercising a gift, an office or performing a function but it is the state of being a witness for Christ through our words and actions. For what does it profit a man who can fluently argue and speak about Christ but has no deeds to support his arguments?