Here are 2 key thoughts about our identity and character as ministers:
1) Who you are is more important than what you do.
A few years ago pastor Ronnie Floyd of First Baptist Church Springdale wrote a book entitled 10 Things Every Minister Needs to Know. Dr Floyd says that every minister must understand that who we are is more important than what we do. Often we have a tendency to find our value and our identity in what we do, or how well we do it instead of recognizing our identity as blood bought, unconditionally loved children of God.
Pastor Floyd encourages readers to look to Ephesians 1:3-14. Concerning identity, check out this statement:
Who am I? In Jesus Christ, I am chosen miraculous, accepted, completely, forgiven freely, planned providentially, and rich spiritually.
2) The ministry we do must make us who Christ wants us to be.
Once we recognize who we are, we must allow God—through reading, studying, and teaching His word; through intercession; through worship; and serving—to change us. We must recognize in our own lives what we teach others: that as we encounter God, we cannot remain the same. As believers we are destined to become more like Christ. As ministers this is critical: we must live out this truth if we ever hope to teach it.
The measure of our ministry is not solely how it impacts others, but also how it changes us. Imagine what a miserable existence it would be to minister to others, yet not be changed ourselves. Still, there are many even today who work in God’s name, but have not experienced the power and transformation that is brought by His presence.
Let us never simply do ministry and walk away unchanged. We must know who we are in Christ, and we must become who He has created us to be.
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