The Ministry of Becoming

The Ministry of Becoming
By: carole l. haines

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)

A good number of us have probably either read the book, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” or seen the movie starring Gregory Peck.  I personally, have never read the book, but have seen the movie at least a dozen times.  It is one of my favorites. Below is an excerpt from the book/movie.

Atticus said to Jem one day, ‘I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.’ That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it.”  Immediately after that paragraph, Scout comments, “That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it.” It is in the next paragraph (9) of CHAPTER 10 that Miss Maudie explains. (Miss Maudie) “Your father’s right … Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”

I was contemplating a sin in my own life, and realized that I had, in a sense, injured the mockingbird within myself, and also allowed others to heap more injury upon me.  I have also not been gentle enough with others, like I should be, in the Body.  It made me realize just how careful we need to be with one another in the Body of Christ.  We’ve heard it said that we don’t always need to be doing something, but that there is a Ministry of Being.  Just being who God called us to be, in a time of preparation, where more change is happening within us, than outside of us.  I once heard someone quote a famous preacher who said:

“If I knew I only had 4 years left to live, I’d spend 3 in preparation and 1 in Ministry.  I think they were quoting Billy Graham, not sure.  But the point is, much more time seems to be spent by God in preparing us, than using us.  The journey really is the point with God.  Our lives are so much more a Ministry of Becoming, than a Ministry of doing.  This is so apparent in the lives of the Old Testament leaders and Prophets, and it is true of us today.  So let us encourage one another, wherever we are in this Ministry of Becoming, and be ready at a moments’ notice to obey God’s call and leading when it comes, and come it will. Speak gently.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)