A Mandate for Ministry

Romans 11:13 – “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office.”

Ephesians 3:7-8 – " ... Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ ... ".

The work of the cross had been fulfilled and the benefit of salvation had now been prepared for all who would believe.

The requirements of the law established for Israel had been fully satisfied by Jesus (Rm. 10:4) by breaking down the middle wall, by granting access to God for both Jews and Gentiles. As God had prepared Moses to deliver the law to Israel, He now had issued a mandate for Saul of Tarsus, who through conversion would become the apostle Paul to deliver the message of Grace to the Gentiles.

The sharing of this message had to be established, the good news (Gospel) had to reach those that were cut off from the commonwealth (relationship with God) of Israel (Eph. 2:14-22).

The conversion of Saul (Acts 9) states in verse 15, “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” Paul was SELECTED as THE Apostle, not “A”; as among many to serve the Body of Christ in this transition of Humanity in relation to Our God. Paul was SEPARATED (sanctified), set apart, mandated to preach this uncompromising message of Grace (Galatians 1:15-18).

Just as Paul, each of us through our salvation experience have been selected and separated to represent the Body of Christ to those that are “cut off,” those that have not heard the message of Grace that grants them eternal life.

There are some whom God has reserved for you to engage, because he has equipped you to do so. How wonderful it is to have the opportunity to share Christ with other, to pray for others, to point them to a new Joy, a new Hope, and a new Life. The mandate is yours.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, help us to see beyond our sight and to sense your presence that leads us in this mandate of ministry to share the Gospel through our words, our actions, and our lives. In your name, we ask for this daily help. Amen.