BECOMING A “MINISTER”
Kimberly Lawrence
Today's Scripture: “But I do not account 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, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24, ESV
Theme: Prioritize sharing your testimony – it is of great eternal value.
WORTH HAVING
Growing up as the child of self-employed, blue-collar parents, this is the motto under which I was raised: “Anything worth having is worth working for.” My great- grandparents were immigrants to the United States who valued hard work, honor, integrity, and self-sufficiency. The generations who preceded me took great pride in their work and in our family. Their lives weren’t easy, but they were rewarding. My dad engrained in me (from a young age) that whatever takes real effort will always mean more to you than what comes easy.
As a child, I didn’t see it that way. I preferred to take the short cuts…with a tendency to avoid the tough or time-consuming tasks entirely. I was also a bit shy, so I would dodge anything that felt awkward or even remotely confrontational. Then my mom would echo those famous words: “Procrastination is the enemy of success.”
As a mature adult, I bet you can guess that those early life lessons are not only part of me, but have been passed on to my children, now young adults themselves. When you work hard, investing the time, energy, and sacrifice in your priorities, the reward is even greater.
MINISTRY IS WORTH THE HARD WORK
Sharing our own testimony is a way to minister to others. There is eternal value in it for us and for the listener. But it’s not easy! I’m much more relaxed sharing my story with other believers, but that’s a short cut! God really wants me to engage with those who are still seeking—those who need to hear the Good News, spoken with conviction as a first-hand account. “God, why can’t I just call one of the Cove Pastors and have them do it? They are much better at it than I am.” “Can’t I just tell them I go to church, and You work your magic”? “What if they ‘test’ my Bible knowledge and I fail or look stupid?”
Have you ever finished something and said to yourself, “That did not go as planned!” or “I was not prepared for that at all!”? I have, and I’m embarrassed to say, this is how I felt one of the first times I prayed out loud. Before I even started, I was sweaty and nervous. My voice cracked as soon as I began speaking, and what came out of my mouth felt like a jumbled, incoherent mess. I could easily have used that experience as an excuse to never pray in front of others again. Or...I could pull myself together and put effort into what to do differently, maybe better, next time.
IT’S WORTH WORKING FOR!
Sharing our testimony sometimes involves very personal and emotional topics. That means being open and maybe vulnerable. It’s intimidating and it is hard work! If it’s a priority (as it must be), how do we press on?
First, practice! There is no substitute for experience. Whatever we do repeatedly will become second nature. We will gain confidence and that will help with the nerves.
Second, organize your thoughts. What pieces of your testimony are integral and stand out as pivotal spiritual guideposts in your life? Don’t miss highlighting those.
Third, speak from the heart! The sincerity of your redemption story is paramount. It’s all yours and it’s indisputable. Share it with confidence.
Fourth, and most importantly, give God the glory. Pray before you start, as you speak, and afterwards, ask Him to bring about understanding. He is the beginning and the end! He is the one doing the mighty work of salvation.
Make It Personal: I once heard a guy named Marty Cohen say, “Anxiety is the price you pay for an unprepared mind and mouth.” Isn’t that the truth? Yes, preparation takes effort, but is well worth it. The Gospel is also worth it! Invest the time in gaining confidence in your testimony. Don’t avoid difficult or emotional conversations; pray ahead of and prepare for them. Your story could be just the connection someone needs to feel understood, forgiven, loved, or hopeful. By sharing it, you may lead them a step closer to an eternal life with our Lord and Savior and there is no work more valuable than that.
Pray: God, thank you for the unique experiences that led me to You. Give me the opportunity and confidence to share my testimony with others. Please help me overcome my apprehension and grow in this process. Calm my nerves as I speak; open the heart of those you ask me to witness to. May the words I speak be transformed and used by You. Amen
Read: 1 Chronicles 16:8; Acts 1:8; Luke 8:39
Weekly Memory Verse: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9, NIV