Back-end Support of Ministry

[S] 2 Samuel 17:27-29 --
27  Now when David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim,28  brought beds, basins, pottery, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans, lentils, parched seeds, 29  honey, curds, sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David and for the people who were with him, to eat; for they said,  "The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness."

[O] There are times of war and there are times of rest and re-energizing because we cannot go full force at all times.  David and his men were running on empty in more of a survival mode until they arrived here at the place of Mahanaim and Shobi where they were provided with food to rest and recuperate from the weariness.  It must have been like an oasis in the desert for these men.  At times of war we may only focus on the fighting front while the back-end support is as important and critical.  In the spiritual battle we're surrounded by, we can easily fall into the same mindset of busily fighting away the enemy's attacks while somewhat neglecting to suppor those in the battle front.

[A] In our church community, we need to be sensitive to all the servants, despite their titles or roles, taking the beating from the spiritual battle and how much support they need.  The support of encouragement, "food" to replenish their strengths, and a place of rest.  Building up a community of believers isn't always about moving forward & forward, but at times that time of rest in the presence of like-minded caretakers is as critical.

[P] Dear Jesus, please send Your Holy Spirit in the midst of our community to gain the wisdom of providing the right support to each other in order we not grow weary in the fighting our enemy. Let us encourage and re-energize each other to go forward in unity.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Apart From Such External Things

[S] 2 Corinthians 11:27-28 --
27  I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28  Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.

[O] Paul's dedication to his ministry involved much hardship describe in this chapter.  He wasn't necessarily looking for hardships but in order to carry the message of Christ he had to withstand such difficult circumstances mentioned in verse 27.  I can feel pain just thinking about them and yet he goes beyond that by saying that on top of those "external" things, his concern for all the churches was even greater.  I'm reading about Paul's ministry now because he really gave it all to build the churches in the right way.  He did not just stop at his "good enough" efforts relative to others but he gave his "best" as a caring pastor.

[A] My life seems to be at the very edge these days with so much going on, but reading what Paul had to experience and yet he so much cared for the churches humbles me because my focus is really more on how crazy things are for me rather than the concern for all the ministries at my church to bring yet another soul closer to Christ.  I must re-calibrate my spiritual bearing so that "apart from such external things" I must lock on to pursuing the ministry of saving lives in all fronts.

[P] Dear Father, thank You for encouraging and challenging me through Paul's life to carry on with my own life, not being burdened daily but to move forward with power and conviction of caring for others.  May I do this not through my efforts but by surrendering my life to You first and putting into actions that You're convicting me to carry out today.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Lowering Before Caring

[S] Hebrews 2:9 --
  ⁹But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

[O] God allowed, according to His plans, Jesus to be lowered than the angels in order for Him to first experience death and to overcome it afterwards paving the path for us to follow.  It is almost like the Superman flying in to save those innocent people trapped by the super villain.  The people's own strength alone was impossible to free themselves until the Superman paves the way out for them breaking through the villain's trap.  Jesus did not enter the scene with flying colors because His method of paving the way out is not by physical force but the permanently overcome the death trap of Satan by first dying and arising from there Himself.  This method is a lot more painful and patient path because the "super" power had to be surrendered and he had to fully experienced the whole process of the crucifixion in raw.

[A] This passage not only refreshed my mind with the Great Salvation Plan of God for me through lowering of His only Son, but also challenged me how I can follow the footsteps of Jesus in my own life when I try to live out the life of His discipleship.  In one area of caring for others, I need to ponder what it would mean for me to fully experience what those who I desire to care for are going through first instead of simply trying to "give them a solution."  This is a much more involved process but I am realizing that is the example Jesus set for me to follow.

[P] Dear God, I will need a lot of Your help in walking down this path.  Please continue to teach my heart to perceive the situation properly for me to care for others in Your ministry.  Thank You for inviting me into Your wonderful ministry of caring for others.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.