People in Ministry (2)
“Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.” And when the people heard this bad news, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments. Exodus 33.3, 4
Hearts for ministry
How do we as the people of God rally to the work of ministry? How can our hearts be stirred to the work God has called us to as those ancient Israelites were stirred and rallied to help build the tabernacle?
In the Body of Christ there is no shortage of money or people to do the work of building the Church and advancing the Kingdom of God. But churches struggle, year-in and year-out, with too few resources, too few warm bodies, and most people are simply content with a kind of spectator faith. Moses didn’t have this problem, though. The people he led into the desert jumped in enthusiastically to the task of building the Lord’s house, giving lavishly of their time, treasure, and talents—so much so that he had to tell them to lay off; a super-abundance had been achieved.Moses was careful to tell us that the hearts of these people had been stirred to this work. Their affections were fully engaged in the work of the Lord. They delighted to think about it; rejoiced to give toward it; and joined with enthusiasm in the work, even though it meant giving up things they’d become used to and were comfortable with at the time.
The hearts of the people of Israel were virtually aflame with love for God and zeal for His work; nothing could have kept them from the super-extravagant show of giving and working that they demonstrated in building the Lord’s tabernacle.
When the followers of Christ have their hearts stirred for building His Church, then they will happily join in this great work.
Redeemed and forgiven
So what does it take to capture the hearts of people like this? The answer is simple: the mercy of God. When people experience the mercy of God, His unfathomable but always faithful love for wayward sinners such as we, they will be well on their way to giving themselves to whatever He calls them to do. But what does it take for people to know the mercy of the Lord?The experience of Israel is instructive for us, if we’re willing to be taught.
First, the people Moses called to the work of the tabernacle had been redeemed by the Lord from captivity in Egypt. They were truly the Lord’s people, had known His saving grace, and were basking in the freedom they were beginning to enjoy in Him and His Law. Put another way, their salvation was fresh in their minds, and they were rejoicing in freedom from captivity. Refreshed by the redeeming grace and mercy of the Lord, the people of Israel were ready to do whatever God required.
Too often the people we urge to “get involved” in ministry either have lost the joy of God’s salvation or have never come to know the Lord Jesus in the first place. If the grace of God is not real to us, and if we are not refreshed in that grace day by day, we will not likely seek God’s mercy and grace for all our times of need. And if we’re not seeking these, we will not experience them and the joy of salvation they entail. Pastors and church leaders need to challenge church members, over and over, both to remember the saving grace of the Lord and to “examine themselves” to make sure they really belong to Christ, or may just be kidding themselves (2 Cor. 13.5). Thus, the saving grace and mercy of the Lord will always be fresh before us.
Second, people of Israel were subjected to the stern rebuke of God for their sin. Yes, they had been saved; but that didn’t mean they were sinless—any more than it means that for us. When the people fell into sin by making the golden calf—the event preceding our text for this installment—God came among them with judgment. He rebuked their wickedness, as Moses railed against them, and put them to shame and discipline until they learned repentance before the Lord. So angry was God with His people that He refused to go up to the land of promise with them while they remained so stiff-necked and unrepentant.
These days calling people to account for their sins and leading them to the grace of repentance is disappearing from the ministry of the Word. We’ll never know the mercy of God until we experience more of His severity and discipline for our sinful ways, so that repentance becomes a daily discipline and frequent practice among the followers of Christ.
A heart for God and the work of ministry will refuse to harbor sin and be quick to repent and seek the Presence of the Lord.
Unto renewal
Finally, we must be daily renewed in the Law and covenant of the Lord (Ex. 34). The people of Israel knew the renewing grace of God as He relented from His anger and embraced them as His covenant people once again. He called on them to be renewed in His covenant (Ex. 34.32) so that they might know His glory in their midst.
As crushing as a rebuke for sin can be, just that much more can the word of forgiveness and restoration bring us into contact with the mercy of God. And those who experience this mercy regularly, in ever-increasing draughts, cannot help but be stirred in their hearts to love this God Who bears with them, again and again, and renews them, over and over.
And when, renewed in mercy, their hearts are stirred with love for God, they will be eager to take their part in the work of building His Church (Ex. 35.20, 21).
For reflection or discussion
1. How would you explain the mercy of God to a new believer?
2. What is it about God’s mercy that leads us to repentance and a renewed heart for Him?
3. What is your role in helping others know the mercy of the Lord?
Next steps—Transformation: Make sure you know what repentance is, why it is needed, and that you are practicing it in your walk with the Lord. Learn to see His mercy in the midst of your sin as you repent and are renewed in Him.
T. M. Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
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This week: Our Read Moore podcast begins an extensive look at the Kingdom of God in our book, The Kingdom Turn. In our Crosfigell teaching letter, we are looking at the state of pastors and churches during the period of the Celtic Revival, using contemporary witnesses. And in our Scriptorium column we are studying the sermon on the mount. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
