Minister of the Gospel

By: Danny Torres
A devotional on the book of Ephesians

I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power. {Ephesians 3:7 CSB}

What does a minister look like? Do they wear pin striped suits and shiny shoes? Do they wear long robes and funny hats? Or maybe they carry a huge dinosaur sized Bible under their arm?

We all have a preconceived notion when we hear the word "minister." The first thing that probably pops into your mind is, "that's not me."

This week we read in Ephesians 3:7 that Paul called himself a "servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace." The word "servant" is translated from the Greek word "diaconos" which means, "someone who executes the demands of another, a servant, a minister."

One of the last things Jesus told his disciples was to "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," {Matthew 28:19 CSB}. This means that we all have a role to play when it comes to making disciples.

Here's three things Paul did as a minister of the gospel that we can do as well.

1, PROCLAIM
The first thing we get to do as servants and ministers of the gospel is proclaim the incalculable riches of Jesus. Proclaiming is simply sharing the great gift of God’s love that we have experienced through Jesus with someone else.

2. SHED LIGHT
​As ministers and servants of the gospel, you can shed light on this mystery. What mystery? Well, it’s no longer a mystery for you. It’s the mystery of the gospel. It’s the good news of Jesus Christ.

Each time you talk to that friend or family member, you’re shedding a little more light. As a minister of the gospel, God is using you to shed light on this mystery of the gospel and ultimately point others to the hope and faith you have found in Jesus.

3. BE BOLD AND CONFIDENT
As ministers of the gospel we can be bold and confident. Not in our own abilities or skills. Instead we can have boldness and confidence because we have access to the Father through Jesus.

Be bold and confident as you proclaim and shed light and share the hope you have in Jesus with those around you. Have confidence knowing that Jesus loves those in your relational circle more than you do. It’s God’s heart to seek and save the lost. His heart is not that any would perish but that many would come to repentance.

In Matthew 9 Jesus said, "The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest." {Matthew 9:37-38 CSB}

What if you were an answer to this prayer by Jesus and the disciples? What if God has placed you right here, right now to share the love of God with those around you? My hope and prayer is that you would begin to see yourself, like Paul, as a minister and servant of the gospel.