[Awake4HisReturn] Fw: [FaithatWork] Devotion, Fri. 2/18/11, Called to be in the Marketplace
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Sent: Mon, February 14, 2011 1:49:43 PM
Subject: [FaithatWork] Devotion, Fri. 2/18/11, Called to be in the Marketplace
Called to be in the Marketplace
By Patrice Tsague
...Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. Luke 5:10-11
Too often we as Christians have two lives; our church lives, where we do our so called ministry and our secular live, where we earn our living. If we feel called to what we consider to be full-time ministry, the immediate assumption is that we are called to be the traditional pastor who must establish a local church or become a foreign missionary. Many have even left their businesses or professions in the marketplace because they believe that the only way to be in full-time ministry is to be a part of the local church staff or be involved in foreign missions; by doing this, some have found themselves outside of the will of God.
Ministry is bigger than the local church; ministry involves every aspect of our society. There are three basic institutions that God has established where ministry must be carried out; the local church, the family and the marketplace. Among those institutions, the marketplace is the one where we spend most of our time with the majority of unsaved people. Marketplace ministry is carrying out our vocation as a calling, in the name of Christ, with the intent to fulfill the great commandment (Matthew 22:37-38) and the Great Commission. It challenges us to allow Jesus Christ to change us from fishermen to fishers of men.
Many of us who have accepted Christ are still acting as fishermen. We spend most of our time and energy in the marketplace toiling and worrying about how much fish we can catch, we do not realize that we are no longer fishermen but fishers of men. As fishers of men Jesus has already taken the responsibility to ensure that we catch enough fish to make our business profitable, our project successful, or that our campaign for office prevails.
Are you a fisherman or a fisher of men? Are you fulfilling the great commandment and the Great Commission through your business or profession?
How to identify your marketplace call?
1. Listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to you.
2. Identify your gifts, skills and abilities.
3. What do you have a burden for?
4. Where does your passion lie?
5. How do you incorporate the Great Commandment and the Great Commission in the execution of your ministry
Remember there are very few industries and professions where we cannot serve the Lord for the scriptures says, "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" Colossians 3:17.
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