Making Much

DEVOTION
ROMANS
MAKING MUCH

Rom 11:13-16
13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
NIV
I have not given much thought to this passage whenever I have read it before as it seems to be the beginning of additional thoughts and concerns of the Apostle which follow in the next several verses. But I must confuse there is a thought which crossed my mind this time which struck a chord within. I have to ask myself whether or not I make much of my ministry. I know some might say doing so would be a prideful action. I wonder if that is true. To make much of my ministry could imply and may very well be the inner drive prompted by the Holy Spirit to be diligent in the gift or ministry God has bestowed upon me. I do not believe I should stand and shout from the housetops telling everyone of my ministry, but I certainly should be doing so in the fulfilling of my ministry. That is to say, I should be about doing what God desires me to do in such a way that I bring attention to God. I should not be hiding what God is doing for me, in me or through me. I should be making so much of what God has called me to do, people are openly aware, seeing and sensing the connect between me and God. Not for my glory, but for His. This is grace in action, His divine influence upon my life and how that is reflected to the world. Can this cost me? I think it could, both from a relational standpoint and a material one. There are consequences of all actions, that is for sure, and as I pursue the ministry God bestowed upon me, some people may be offended. I cannot help but think of statements I have made in my book about the ungodly. If an ungodly person read that perhaps offense would be taken, but that I must live with as I believe that is what God desired me to write. When I preach I have perhaps shaken the boat a bit from time to time, but again I must do what God directs. People might take offense at both my written and spoken words yet I must say what I must. This ministry may cost me material loss even. I have already devoted funds which may or may not see return, yet I must make much of my ministry. I must be about that which God desires me to be about.