THE MINISTRY
‘The ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus.’
These words from St. Paul’s charge to the Ephesian clergy who met him at Miletus tell of a ministry, and of Him Who commissioned men to exercise it in His Church.
I. The work of the ministry.—‘The ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus.’ The words imply a work to be done by a servant, a service to be rendered. There is signified the dedication and devotion of a life to the noblest and loftiest of callings. There must be henceforward a singleness of aim, a concentration of thought, of desire and purpose, upon one object by those who take upon themselves the exercise of this ministry. ‘This one thing I do’ is to be the motto of the minister of Jesus Christ.
II. The joy of the ministry.—Thus far I have dwelt upon the responsibility which attaches to us as the ministers of Christ. I am not forgetful of the fact, that there is the side of privilege and blessing beyond all that we can conceive. There is the joy of fellowship with our Master in the object which of all others is dearest to Him Who came to seek and to save the lost, and Who bids His under-shepherds diligently to feed the flocks committed to them. There is the joy too, than which there can be none greater in this world, of being used by God to comfort the souls of His people, and to help them on their way to heaven. And this joy will be granted in large measure to the whole-hearted and single-minded servants of Christ in their ministry, a joy with which none can intermeddle, and which, whilst it lasts, makes our days ‘as the days of heaven upon earth.’
III. The source of the ministry.—The words ‘which I have received of the Lord Jesus’ indicate the source from which we have our commissions. ‘No man taketh this honour unto himself but he that is called of God.’ Whilst we receive our ministry from Him, we exercise it on behalf of our brethren. If we fulfil it, we have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon us.
Rev. F. K. Aglionby.