As I began to ponder this question, a few immediate answers came to mind.
For me, fellowship is not just a word, but a daily practice. It's about communing, talking to, and listening in prayer during my daily life.
Consider the profound impact of praise and worship, as demonstrated in scripture. From the woman with the Alabaster box to David dancing before the Lord with all of his might, these moments are not just rituals, but sacred encounters that bless both the worshipper and his Lord.
Reading and meditating on the Word of God is not a passive act, but a transformative journey. It opens to us a connection to God's mind, offering timeless wisdom that can guide and inspire us in our daily lives.
Walking in reverence and living in honor of God and His word is not just a duty, but a privilege. The Lord God’s nature is one who joys in blessing His people. Like a father toward his children, when we live out his Word, we minister to the Lord by giving him a reason to bless us. This is a beautiful, reciprocal relationship that fills us with gratitude and humility.
Blessing. We love to be blessed.
However, if we continue to walk with God, we will be invited to a deeper ministry to Jesus.
That ministry to Jesus will change focus. Not just minister to Jesus and live in that flow of blessing, favor, and communion that flows from that. That is the place where we identify what Jesus loves and begin to love them because he loves them.
“In every place of scripture where we are admonished to love God, you will find following close an admonition to love people.” Kevin Shindoll
One of the greatest ways we demonstrate love and ministry to Jesus is experienced with we show love and ministry to them for Him.
That blessed flow of ministry when we are laboring together with Jesus. We are in the yoke with him. We are operating in that sacred space of being his hands, feet, voice, and presence.
A little boy comes running into s room cry’s room crying, “I’m scared daddy.” Daddy says, “It’s alright, buddy; Jesus is with you.” Little boy continues to cry, “Yes, but I need someone with skin on.”
When we are His skin, it is for us to minister to them for Him.
Don’t misunderstand me. The blessing we experience will often not feel like a blessing. They hated, rejected, and scorned Him, and they will do the same to us. However, Jesus said, “Blessed are you when you are persecuted and rejected for my name's sake.”
The Bible is chock full of examples where the Lord highlights His great desire for us to minister to them.
The good Samaritan.
While others were focused on going to church and teaching the Word, there was a man who understood. There is a point where the Word of God becomes flesh in us, and we do for others what Jesus has done for us. Jesus was rebuking the professional class of clergy who did not understand practical theology.
God is not impressed with your theology degree and biblical knowledge if it never becomes a ministry harnessed toward His purpose. We never become so immeshed in our profession of “ministry” that we are liberated from our need to live that ministry out to the “little people” in practical ways.
I have no doubt most of you who will read this already know what I am talking about because you have extended your life, substance, and balance into the Redemption Industrial Complex called the Church. You are spending and being spent. Great wealth has been accumulated in the stock market and Kingdom Loan and Trust. Treasures of unspeakable value have been invested and deposited in the treasury and storehouse of heaven.
Even when you don’t realize the good you do is being recorded. Even when you are doing it from the heart and you feel like no one even notices.
There is an accounting being made. Yet another entry has been logged. Even when they don’t say thank you, HE will reward you; he will repay you for caring enough for Him to be taken for granted by them.
“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” Hebrews 6:10
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21
I have heard some scoff at the poor preacher that gave all his savings, passed on financial opportunities and lived longer than he could physically do the work of ministry and lived out the end of his life in poverty. I believe, there is going to be great honor one day for those who gave all, spent all and left it all on the field.
Maybe they should have used wisdom and done more to prepare. However, I imagine Jesus will view it like he did the woman with the box. Nothing is wasted when it is given as a worship and praise to minister to the Body of the Lord Jesus.
Ministering to Jesus,
There is a payday coming one happy day,
In Him, By Him, Through Him,
Scott A. Phillips
“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”