Our Lord Jesus Christ lived, worked and ministered in the real world. He spent most of his time teaching in the streets and market places. He put forth the truth right out in the real world where people live and work. Daily he made contact with all kinds of people from blue collar fishermen to white collar tax collectors. He was even known to show up from time to time in a synagogue, but at the bottom line he had “street cred.”
Near the end of his earthly ministry Jesus prayed for his disciples—for you and me. He prayed “I have given them Your word…I do not pray that You should take them out of the world (John 17:14, 15).” Christ wants us in the world with the Word of God just like he was. Our Lord has work to do, lives to touch, here and now and his method is to do it through us, the church.
Christian ministry includes the teaching of the Word by those gifted to teach so that every believer is equipped to minister and serve both in the church and out in the world. If you are a Christian who owns a business or goes to work, you are a minister of the good news of Jesus Christ right out there in the real world.
Christ said to his disciples “You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world (Matthew 5:13, 14).” These metaphors describe the basics of your ministry at work and in the world. You are “salt” which inhibits decay, preserves and adds flavor. And you are “light” which means that you dispel darkness so others can see the truth. The Bible says “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20).” Go on, get out of the salt shaker and shed some light—someone is waiting for you!
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