Romans
12:6-8 Having
gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if
prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who
teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who
contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts
of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Every Christian who follows
the Savior is called to minister according to his or her gifts. The ministries
available to every Christian include prayer, mercy, music, administration,
teaching, counseling, preaching and giving.
Those called to ministry
must have hearts that are overwhelmed by the vision of God’s glory and must be
dedicated to extol His worthiness, not their own. It is God’s ministry that he
invites us to participate in.
The prophet Isaiah’s call,
Isaiah 6:1-13, helps us to see the essential elements of a true calling from
God. The called will have experienced the conviction, confession, cleansing,
consecration and commission of the Holy Spirit. Let’s see how.
Seeing the glory of God brings to us conviction of
sin. In comparison to Him, we see the utter despair and need within us. In
response to his own sin, Isaiah confessed his own inadequacy and sinfulness.
The called see the Lord with eyes of faith in His Word. The vision of God moves
from the head to the heart. He understands in mind and heart that the work set
before him/her can only be accomplished by God working through them.
Isaiah’s lips were cleansed. The Spirit cleans the
soul of the stain sin creates. Conscious of his unclean nature Isaiah is
cleansed by God. Without confession and cleansing the work of ministry is just work.
Being cleansed, Isaiah was now ready for consecration. This entails his
acceptance of the Lord’s call to serve. God never forces us but he does prepare
us for ministry. Finally there is the commission. As ambassadors for Christ we
have the ministry of reconciliation for which our gifts have been given us.
