Fulfilling your God-given ministry with zeal for those who are lost.

Written by Desiree Bustamante.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
2 Timothy 4:3-5 English Standard Version

We all know people who think that the birth of Christ is just a myth…a story perpetuated through the years because they believe we, who call ourselves Christians, are weak and need an emotional crutch to get through life. Many people would sooner believe in magical unicorns than the fact that Jesus was born, over two thousand years ago, to be our Savior.

As we near Christmas, it’s disheartening to hear others deny Jesus’ birth and His love for us, whether it’s from family, friends, or in the media. We can’t understand why they can’t see the truth, and they don’t understand why we need anyone other than ourselves to live a fulfilling life.

This experience is not new. Centuries ago Paul told Timothy that this would happen. Yet Paul doesn’t focus on how we feel when it happens. Instead, he says we should be logical, sensible, and endure the suffering that comes from believing in, and living for, Christ. The apostle urges us to never lose our zeal for lost souls, but to continue to proclaim the good news of Christ and fulfill the ministry God has given us as His children.

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Peter 4: 10-11 English Standard Version

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado