The text says the family of Stephanas was addicted to the ministry of the saints. I must admit, I was a little taken aback to see the word “ addicted “ in relationship to ministry. To be addicted means to be physically or emotionally dependent or devoted to something. Most of us are familiar with addictions of one sort or another. Like me, many have memories or knowledge of family or friends that fell victim to certain addictions. Many times families were severely affected or lost to drugs, alcohol, gambling, and sex addictions. We also know of that struggle with addictive behaviors...gluttony, shopping, lying, gossip, negativity, etc. We can never underestimate the power of an addiction…It seduces its victim gradually until one is hooked…until they are an addict. Unable to help themselves…no matter how destructive, bizarre, compulsive the behavior...they are but a helpless creature in the grasp of the captor. The only relief comes with the eventual acquiring of that which it is addicted to. The scripture John 10:10 declares... that the enemy...Satan... comes to steal, kill and destroy...But praise God, Jesus came that we might have life and that more abundantly. Aren’t you glad Jesus broke the chains of addiction that had us bound a prisoner to Satan and sin and set us free? It is so comforting to know that he is continuing to free us daily!
We are not told how the family ministered...only that they were aggressively devoted to the ministry of the saints. To minister means to “serve”. We are not told how or what they did; maybe they washed the feet of those that traveled through their areas. Maybe they served as missionaries... giving food to the hungry, maybe they aided widows and orphans of the church. Maybe they assisted the ministers of the day with visiting those that were sick and bedridden. Maybe they interceded in the natural and spiritual. However they served, they met the needs of the saints. What a fine thing to meet the needs of the saints…so many are guilty of meeting needs only when it is convenient. And then only giving people what they want to give vs. what they need. In this last hour of church history...the stress of just trying to live…trying to survive…trying to deal with my own issues… trying to find a way to cope...do we ask ourselves how can I help somebody? But I wonder what would happen if in the midst of our pain, our trials, even our disappointments, we would just bless the Lord…and realize that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. We actually become stronger as we reach out to help others. What would happen if suddenly we trusted God enough to” Give Ourselves Away”...in ministry...in service! What would happen if we would become just as passionate about our commitment to service as we were to the addictions in our former life? Can you imagine the impact we...the bride of Christ would have on our families, our community, our schools, universities, places of employment? What would the result be in our church if we began to frantically look for someone to offer Jesus to, someone to bless!...someone to offer hope to...someone to offer a kind word, a smile to …the love of Jesus! In a lost and dying world Jesus says “the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.” This season of Prayer…I pray that the Lord of the Harvest send forth laborers…..Are you praying “Here am I, Oh Lord, send me”? Are you an Addict?
-Bishop
We are not told how the family ministered...only that they were aggressively devoted to the ministry of the saints. To minister means to “serve”. We are not told how or what they did; maybe they washed the feet of those that traveled through their areas. Maybe they served as missionaries... giving food to the hungry, maybe they aided widows and orphans of the church. Maybe they assisted the ministers of the day with visiting those that were sick and bedridden. Maybe they interceded in the natural and spiritual. However they served, they met the needs of the saints. What a fine thing to meet the needs of the saints…so many are guilty of meeting needs only when it is convenient. And then only giving people what they want to give vs. what they need. In this last hour of church history...the stress of just trying to live…trying to survive…trying to deal with my own issues… trying to find a way to cope...do we ask ourselves how can I help somebody? But I wonder what would happen if in the midst of our pain, our trials, even our disappointments, we would just bless the Lord…and realize that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. We actually become stronger as we reach out to help others. What would happen if suddenly we trusted God enough to” Give Ourselves Away”...in ministry...in service! What would happen if we would become just as passionate about our commitment to service as we were to the addictions in our former life? Can you imagine the impact we...the bride of Christ would have on our families, our community, our schools, universities, places of employment? What would the result be in our church if we began to frantically look for someone to offer Jesus to, someone to bless!...someone to offer hope to...someone to offer a kind word, a smile to …the love of Jesus! In a lost and dying world Jesus says “the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.” This season of Prayer…I pray that the Lord of the Harvest send forth laborers…..Are you praying “Here am I, Oh Lord, send me”? Are you an Addict?
-Bishop
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