And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

– Ephesians 4:11-12

Oftentimes I find myself sitting at church or youth group and thinking, “Man, I could never speak about the Word of God like that.” Have you ever thought about that? We commonly think that leading in ministry is just a job reserved for pastors and youth leaders. But the truth relayed in this verse is that EVERYBODY is called to lead in God’s ministry.

In these verses Paul lists different positions where people can serve in God’s ministry. Notice how He doesn’t just say apostles, prophets, evangelists, and teachers, but also listed shepherds. Being a shepherd was not a highly regarded job at the time, typically considered a job for the lower-class citizens. This verse shows that God sees those who are considered lower class and gives them a heavenly status. He gives them a calling to lead in His ministry, building up the body of Christ.

If you are reading this thinking you are not equipped for ministry because of the job title you have, the kind of person you are, or the kind of past you have behind you; read that verse again! God sends the Holy Spirit to equip us for His ministry. Every. Single. Person.

Whether you are a pastor or a cashier at Walmart, you are equipped to spread the gospel to everyone around you. So instead of bearing just your career title today, like cashier or pastor, I challenge you to put on a new title that reads: Child of God, Equipped for His ministry.

Prayer:

Come Lord Jesus, quickly. Many of us are waiting and no one will be disappointed. I thank you for equipping me for your ministry. Even if I don’t feel like it, I know you are giving me the tools every day to build up the body of Christ. I know I am chosen and called by you to spread the gospel to others around me, so show me who needs to hear it today.

Daily Reading: Luke 12

– Contributed by Betsy Petersen