July 14, ministry more important than life. But I do not count my life of any value nor

as precious to myself if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from

the Lord Jesus, X-20, 24. According to the New Testament, ministry is what all Christians do.

According to Ephesians 4, 11, and 12, pastors have the job of equipping the saints for the work

of the ministry. But ordinary Christians are the ones who do the ministry. What ministry looks like

is as varied as Christians are varied. It's not an office like elder or deacon. It's a lifestyle

devoted to making much of Christ and meeting the needs of others. It means that we do good to

everyone especially to those who are of the household of faith, Galatians 6-10. Whether we are bankers

or bricklayers, it means that we aim at advancing other people's faith and holiness to the glory of God.

Fulfilling your ministry is more important than staying alive. This conviction is what makes the

lives of radically devoted people so inspiring to watch. Most of them speak the way Paul did about

his ministry here in X-20, 24. I do not account my life of any value or as precious to myself if only

I may finish my course and the ministry that I receive from the Lord Jesus. Doing the ministry that

God gives us to do is more important than life. You may think you need to save your life in order to

do your ministry? On the contrary, how you lose your life may be the capstone of your ministry.

It certainly was for Jesus only in his 30s. We need not fret about keeping ourselves alive in order

to finish our ministry. God alone knows the appointed time of our service. He will decide

when our death is not an interruption of our ministry but the last act of our ministry.

Henry Martin was right when he said, if God has worked for me to do, I cannot die. In other words,

I am immortal until my work is done. Therefore, ministry is more important than life.