Ministry of Interruption


Having just gone through the 40 Days of Purpose at our church and re-reading "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren for the third time I have discovered something about Jesus that I had not noticed before. That's what I love about scripture. You can study it all your life and learn something new all the time.

What I learned had to do with how I handle ministry and interruptions. My attitude was not Christ-like. I have notice that on several occasions when Jesus was on his way to "do ministry" that he was stopped by someone who needed help. He always took the time to listen and to help. And God came through with a divine intervention. My problem was that I have viewed interruptions as barriers to doing ministry, when in fact God has been trying to teach me that is what ministry is about. It's not about convience, whether or not I feel like it. It's about availability to God's will. Being willing to be interrupted for Christ's sake.

This is a tough one to learn. I am the type of person when I get focused on a project that I don't want to be disturbed. I want to complete the task. I suppose God is working on my patience through this too. The scripture says, "No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him." That is what I have to do. Stop allowing the things that must get done crowd out the direction and voice of God. I think His desire is that we may be more open minded and available to minister to people through interruptions that seem far from "actual ministry".

If you have been thinking, "How come I don't see God do miracles in my life?" what have you been doing with the interruptions that He sends your way? Have you been open to people intruding on your time? How have you treated those around you concerning their interruptions?

So....
be available, be open minded, and be calm when interruptions happen and see what God will do.

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