Matthew 8:14-17; Mark 1:29-34; Luke 4:38-41
And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. (Mark 1:31)
How did Peter’s mother-in-law minister to Jesus and His disciples? Did she sit them down and preach to them? Certainly not. Yet sometimes people think the only way we can minister to others is to admonish them with the Scriptures.
Peter’s mother-in-law apparently ministered to them by serving them. The word translated minister is the same word that was translated deacon twice in the New Testament, and serve, served, or serveth eight times. Her response to receiving a great miracle was to serve lunch!
This story should humble us. We should never despise “the day of small things” [simple_tooltip content=’For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord, which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.’](Zech. 4:10)[/simple_tooltip]. We can minister mightily for the Lord by doing some of the menial tasks that many consider to be unimportant. Jesus said that even a cup of cold water given in His name would not go unrewarded. [simple_tooltip content=’And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”’](Matt. 10:42)[/simple_tooltip]
Many Christians are waiting for the important jobs to come along, so they can make a big impact or receive a lot of recognition. In the meantime, they pass by the lesser opportunities to be a servant like Jesus in so many different ways. They forget He said that in the kingdom of God, we won’t be given any great opportunities until we are proven faithful in the small things. [simple_tooltip content=’He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.’](Luke 16:10)[/simple_tooltip]
Today, ask the Lord to show you ways you can minister to others by serving them in any way, big or small.
