Don't Look for Thanks

The ministry is not about being thanked and recognized for our labor and sacrificial efforts, although those are what propel the ministry. The ministry is about obeying God's call to minister to his people. It is primarily about fulfilling that call: seeking the lost and tending the members of the flock.

But a simple "thanks" and a little less judging sure would be nice. At least every now and then. Remember the story of the lepers? Christ healed ten and how many came back and expressed gratitude. One. Just one.

Receiving criticism is never easy, especially when directed at your family.

We also have trouble with being reviled. But not everyone liked Christ either. His response?
"When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly" (I Peter 2:23)

God is a God of justice. We are to expect criticism, even from the nice old ladies who come with their toddling grandchildren. We can expect thanklessness from those we counseled last Friday. We can expect gossiping and slander over something misconstrued which we said. But the response is not vindiction. The response we need is love and forgiveness. That's a tall order. Only the grace of God can give that too us.

I think part of the hurt can be lessened by trying not to take things personally. By bringing it to God right away and forgiving through his strength (Psalm 62:8). We are all human, all "prone to wander," and all capable of making mistakes. But our place in the ministry is not to judge, but to uplift; to follow the example of Christ who forgave heinous sins, even Peter's betrayal.

People's actions never justify an unChristlike response -- no matter how much it hurts.

We must pray for the love as evidenced in I Corinthians 13. Don't keep a running total in your head of how many times you've forgiven sister _________ or brother __________. Since God doesn't keep a record then neither should we. (Psalm 130:2-4) We can only achieve this kind of love throuh him. Remember the compassion of Christ, the tirelessness, the patience. Seek to imitate. Seek to serve. Seek to love.


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Psalm 62:7-8
On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
Selah
Psalm 130:2-4
O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.