Help! Love, MOM

Question.

What would have happened to Moses if his father-in-law, Jethro, had not ministered to him?

MOSES and JETHRO

Moses was about to pour, or lose, his life in the complaints of his people. If you have ever worked a customer service job or raised more than one child, you know how wearying and soul-stealing listening to complaints can be.

DAVID and ABIGAIL?

A fugitive running and hiding in caves throughout the Judean wilderness, David found part – time employment for himself aaaand about 600 men.

The men protected Nabal’s sheep, a very wealthy man, and his employees by guarding them against raiders.

Everything was great – until this man Nabal refused to pay.

Abigail, Nabal’s wife was told that destruction along with David, and his men were riding their way.

This good wife hurried out to bravely and directly meet the disrespected, angry, anointed and divinely appointed David.

Abigail calmed David with the truth, gracefully spoken. She “prophesied” if you will to David about his future telling him that he would not want the blood of Nabal on his conscience when crowned king.

Abigail’s ministry of one to David:

• saved her household;
• helped David to endure Nabal’s “slings and arrows;” and
• to patiently await God’s perfect timing.

JOSEPH and THE CUPBEARER

Earlier in Israel’s history, Joseph, himself a prisoner at the time, ministered to Pharoah’s disgraced cupbearer (or butler) who was also imprisoned.

Joseph encouraged the cupbearer as he declared to the man that, one day, the cupbearer would be returned to his position.

And that is exactly what happened.

PAUL and ONESIPHORUS

I know tough name, and a mighty testimony of ministry to one.

The great apostle Paul was imprisoned during a time when prison constituted little more than being thrown into a hole in the ground in many cases.

Into an ugly circumstance this man, Onesiphorus, inserts himself.

He “refreshes” Paul; and he diligently searches for Paul.

Onesiphorus unbothered and unashamed of the shameful fact of Paul’s incarceration made the unbearable survivable for the great man of God.

JESUS and THE WOMAN @ THE WELL

Jesus who, at one time, ministered to untold numbers of people in the sermon on the mount, at another time, specifically detoured, and sent His disciples away so that He could to sit and wait for one stigmatized woman.

When she showed up, the LORD asked her one breakthrough question:

“Will you give me a drink?” 

Which gave rise to this response from the woman:

“You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) John 4:9 NIV.

Thousands of years later we “Jews” and “Samaritans” are still trying to figure out how and if we may serve one another.

Notice, Jesus, looked for this woman, to speak with her. He searched for the opportunity to minister to her. She needed ministry more than she needed water from the well.

Jesus used a common request to begin a respectful conversation which changed this one woman’s life and that of her acquaintances forever. Ministry to one eventually broke through to give this woman a different, powerful life script.

In our day biblical ministry has a number attached to it. In person we tend to emphasize crowds, while online it’s all about followers, likes and subscribers.

While we rightly count people because people count, let’s never forget, one is a number that counts.

My Mama Thompson

A great lady, she’ll be 92 this August, who has a ministry of one is my daughter’s godmother: Mother Claudine “Diva” Thompson.

Diva is not her actual middle name, but if you knew her, you would also know that title suits her perfectly.

My Mama Thompson encouraged 17 year old pregnant me when it seemed like my life was one long embarrassing blooper reel.

She and her husband, Deacon Thompson, were kind, encouraging and forward thinking, envisioning a time in my life when I could anticipate a turnaround.

If you’ve ever been down, depressed, dumped, overworked, angry or wrestling with any number of difficult feelings you likely have needed

• a Mama Thompson,
• an Abigail,
• an Onesiphorus,
• a Jethro,
• a Joseph’
• We need Jesus to show up in the kindness, in the love and encouragement that we give, one to another.

You and I need Jesus to show up, and Jesus, I believe, would have us to show up and minister to just one.

I pray that today you will either go and minister to one, or, that the LORD would send a much needed refreshing to you through the supernaturally mighty, tiny ministry of one to you.

Have you ever benefited from ministry to one? Please do share your story.

Blessings,

Kimberly