Success in Ministry

Success in Ministry

By Lahry Sibley

Not long ago we were in a home meeting. We have this one lady in our group who lives alone and has some emotional difficulties dealing with that situation. She arrived at the home meeting in a shambles. One of the other ladies just went right over too her, wrapped her arms around her and just held her close. In just a few minutes, all was so much better.

The meeting was themed around spiritual gifts. I was asked to minister on 1 Cor 12, which I did. Then there was much discussion about how we go about using our "gifts" in service to our Holy God and His people. Then it hit me. Immediately after 1 Cor 12 comes 13, the love chapter. It concludes with "love never fails". Then I remembered how the evening began with the one sister just loving the other, and how that was enough. Wow. How do we so often miss this?

We all want to serve the Lord and be a blessing in our ministry. I'm not different than any of you in that I want the Holy Spirit to flow through me and edify members of the Body of Christ. Sometimes we pray for others, or talk to them, or serve them in some way, and being honest we wonder if there was really a move of God in all of that. Not all close encounters of His kind are euphoric. But all obedience is rewarded.

When our sister reached out in love to the other, she was destined to succeed. Why? Because love never fails! It never fails when we are ministering to another, and it never fails when we are ministering to the Lord. Success is guaranteed! Love never fails. I was awestruck. Suddenly, a very familiar part of scripture that is easily understood sprang off the page and into our hearts. Well, I can tell you, that it was not difficult to discern the Spirit when I pointed this out to the group. We were all blessed beyond measure, and I have not been able to stop thinking about it, nor do I want too.

Love is a gift to be given. Regardless of who we meet, or under what circumstances, we will always succeed when we apply His love to that situation. Love never fails. Selah. Oh happy day.

Rejoicing with you in Him,

Lahry