Church Goes Out 5

Matthew 9:27-29

I usually make a phone call home when I am leaving the hospital after visiting someone. That way, if there is something I need to pick up, I can get it on my way home. This saves an extra trip on someone’s part.

Just as we need to be open to simple side trips in our day-to-day dealings, we need to have our eyes open for ministry opportunities when we are involved in the work of the kingdom of God. Today’s passage was the first healing of a blind person I came across. I use it as an example of all of Jesus’ healing of the blind.

How is Jesus described in verse 27? What does he ask in verse 28? What happens?

If you scan through the Gospels and look for examples of Jesus healing any blind person I believe you will discover one consistent concept. Every time Jesus heals a blind person, whether the blind person asks for it or not, Jesus is on his way somewhere. Jesus is out doing ministry when he gets interrupted or interrupts himself so that he might stop and do more ministry.

As we prepare for our own ministry we may have specific tasks in mind. We may set a specific goal of helping this group or that, of building this thing, of collecting this many canned goods, and so on. But like Jesus we must be open to the distractions of other people’s needs.

As we go out to do ministry we will likely encounter other ministry and outreach opportunities. We must be open to these encounters.

In today’s passage we see the persistence of the blind men’s faith. But we also see that Jesus was on his way somewhere and was willing to stop to heal them.

We need to be like Jesus. We may have goals in mind for our ministry or our work, but we need to be willing to be flexible. If we see a need we should respond to the need. That is part of ministry, not necessarily completing a single task that you have in mind, but being available to help wherever and whenever needed.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What can help you be more flexible in your ministry?