THE OTHERS

Alone by Norbert Eder

"...Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight."
-Hebrews 11:32b-34

Ministry can often feel like you're alone in the wilderness. It can be an unforgiving meat grinder. I’m not just talking about “professional” ministry, but all legit ministry by legit ministers of the Gospel. I’m talking about soccer moms, on-the-road dads, teens, seniors, lay-ministers, teachers, pastors, professors… people neck deep in ministry - period.

One thing I’ve learned in ministry is the horrific danger associated with our own expectations and outcomes. When you read Hebrews 11:32-34, it sounds awesome; conquering kingdoms, administering justice, gaining promises, shutting the mouths of lions, quenching raging fires, escaping the sword, mighty in battle, and putting foreign armies to flight! That’s the kind of stuff seminaries put on their brochures!

The problem: most of us never bother to absorb the stuff following in Hebrews 11:35b-38.

“...Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were shorn in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated. The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.”

Nobody jumps out of their seat to sign up to be imprisoned, mocked, flogged, stoned, sawn in two… to be destitute, oppressed, mistreated, homeless, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. That’s the stuff they leave out of the brochures.

When the reality of ministry strikes and things get ugly... when the mockers begin to blurt out, when the gossips and slanderers sling their toxic sludge, when you go to bed and wake up feeling like you’ve been run through the meat grinder… it's time to remember the heroes of faith never got to choose their category. Some conquered kingdoms; others hid in holes.

Entitlement is the plight of ministry. Praying the prayer of Jabez doesn’t guarantee the Lord will enlarge your territory. It does, however, always guarantee His territory will be enlarged in and through us “by faith.”

How were the “others” able to endure? They focused on gaining a “better resurrection” by faith.

If you’ve found yourself in a situation more like those mocked, flogged, stoned, sawn in two, destitute, oppressed, mistreated, and struggling in ministry. It’s not a mistake; it’s a privilege. Unlike those whom the writer of Hebrews mentions, “did not yet receive what was promised,” we have. We’ve received Christ. We’ve received the gift of faith and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

What does this season of ministry look like for you? Are you conquering kingdoms or living in a hole? Are you putting foreign armies to flight or refusing release from prison? Few are blessed with storybook ministries. For most, it looks more like “the others.” Just know you’re not alone. Many came before. Many will come after. We all have the promise of a better resurrection. We have all received the fullness of all God’s promises in Christ.

Don’t quit. Press on. Persevere! Don’t worry about tomorrow. Be faithful to the ministry He’s given you today at all costs.

I’ll see you, and all “the others,” topside.

Thank you, David, for the encouragement and inspiration to write this.

Blessings,
-Kevin M. Kelley
aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com