God Uses our Past to Help Others in the Present

We don't have to be a pastor to minister to others. 

BY SARAH SCHMIDT

Ministry can be done in so many ways. We don’t have to be a pastor to be able to minister to others. For example, our jobs in law enforcement can be a ministry. So many times in my career, I heard the words, “I know you are a Christian,” without me ever saying I was. This surprised me because I didn’t advertise my beliefs. I never considered myself to be “in ministry” at the time because I thought I had to be more of a perfect person. Later in life, I learned being perfect is not a prerequisite for ministry. We never will be perfect. We all have a past and have done things we are not proud of. Ministry comes through our hearts for Jesus and what He has done for us.

The Apostle Paul was not a perfect person. Before he became a Christian, Paul terrorized and persecuted Christians. After he met Jesus on the way to Damascus, Paul’s life radically changed. Paul then began to minister over a wide area and wrote more than half of the books in the New Testament.

Had Paul felt he wasn’t worthy of ministry, many lives wouldn’t have been changed. Paul left the past in the past and committed his life to helping others hear the Good News of Jesus. Jesus changed Paul on the road that day to Damascus, and Paul couldn’t keep his new transformation to himself. Paul began to love and comfort others as Jesus did.

In Philippians 2:1-2 (ESV) Paul wrote:

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,  complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Jesus loved ministering to the broken and to those with a sinful past. He knows we can't be perfect people because of the sin in this world. Our ministry to others brings Jesus joy, too.

My career in law enforcement was a calling to care for others the way Jesus did. Although I was never perfect like Jesus, bits and pieces of Jesus showed through me when I tried to help others. People saw Christ in me during times of compassion when I tried comforting those who were hurting.

There were times I felt led by the Holy Spirit to ask them if they needed prayer. I was never turned down for prayer. After praying with them, many left with tear-stained faces, but with smiles of hope for their situation to change. By helping others, we can be a light for them through Jesus in their dark times.

We are never perfect, but Jesus can use us anyway. He uses our past to help others in the present. Jesus can do some amazing work using our life experiences and our abilities, just like He did with the Apostle Paul.

Paul's ministry was never easy, but through his faith in Christ, Paul's ministry and mission still help others to this day.

Reflection:

From your past experiences, what are some ways you could help others who are struggling?

Prayer:

God, use me to help others in my law enforcement career. In Jesus’ name, Amen.