Read: 2 Corinthians 6:1-10
The Chinese Church had it right. We got it wrong! Brother Yun in his sequel to The Heavenly Man talks about a region in which many Christians were sent, only to be slaughtered for their faith. He made the passing comment that when times get tough and dangerous, we in the West often pull out our missionaries and workers. We refuse to send people in. The Chinese church is overwhelmed with volunteers to go into these dangerous, life threatening areas because they are ready to count the cost. They are willing and ready to fight the real battle, even with their very lives.
It’s a confronting view of ministry isn’t it? Paul the Apostle has such a view of ministry as well. He puts no stumbling block in anyone’s path so that many will come to know Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour. he willingly endures hardship and trial for the sake of the gospel. Paul knows that ‘now is the day of salvation’. Tomorrow may well be too late.
Now in all honesty, I don’t expect you to sell up everything and head off to China to enrol in a ‘certain death’ ministry. But can’t we go without just that little bit for the sake of the gospel? Can’t we turn off the TV for the evening and spend it ringing around to encourage others? Can’t we forgo dessert every night this week and set up a soup kitchen for the hungry? Can’t we feel a bit of cold and give away every second blanket in our house to those in the streets with no place to lay their head? Can’t we halve our Christmas and birthday spending limits and give the difference to the poorer peoples or buy presents from 3rd World country catalogues?
There’s so much you and I can do for the gospel. There’s so much we can forgo to make someone else’s life a little more blessed. There are so many ways we can practically share the love of Christ with those around us. But before anything happens we need to change the way we think about ministry.
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