"a more excellent ministry" (heb 8:6)
"Jesus has obtained a more excellent ministry now." —Hebrews 8:6
Many of you are involved in ministries. Some of you serve in ordained or consecrated ministry as a priest, deacon, or a religious. You might serve Jesus in a prison ministry, a healing ministry, a ministry of bringing the Holy Eucharist to the homebound or sick, or a "ministry of the word" (Acts 6:4). Some of you serve God in a worship ministry, the ministry of intercession, a ministry of justice or charity (Mt 25:44; 27:55, RNAB), or the "ministry of reconciliation" all Christians share (2 Cor 5:18). "We possess this ministry through God's mercy" (2 Cor 4:1).
Jesus has a "more excellent ministry" in store for you in 2009. He gives you a new covenant and better promises (Heb 8:6). Give your life and your ministry to Jesus right now — all of it. He will give you a new heart for your ministry and a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit to minister in power (see Ez 36:26). There's always more in Jesus — more power, more love, more faith, more conversions, more excellence.
Let Jesus take your ministry to a new level of excellence in 2009. "Take care to discharge the ministry you have received in the Lord" — in a more excellent way (Col 4:17). "Fulfill your ministry" (2 Tm 4:5). "How much greater will be the glory of the ministry of the Spirit?" (2 Cor 3:8)
Prayer: Jesus, send the Holy Spirit to equip me more powerfully for ministry (Eph 4:11-12). Stir up in me the spiritual gift of ministry (Rm 12:7).
Promise: "I will forgive their evildoing, and their sins I will remember no more." —Heb 8:12
Praise: Anna has been faithful to the ministry of bringing the Eucharist to shut-ins for years.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 17, 2008
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