Daily EncouragementSample

There is a good case for seeing in the “angels” of the seven churches the ministers of the churches, even though we may not go as far as Spurgeon who said, “If the reference of the word “Angel” to the minister be questioned we should be glad to have it shown it can relate to anyone else.”

The ministry is in the hand of the Lord. Its primary authority is found in him. Be they ministers, missionaries, evangelists or pastors, they are called and appointed by him. The authority with which they advance into all the world is his. They do not despise the laying on of human hands (1 Tim. 4:14), but see it as a recognition of “the mighty ordination of the pierced hands.“

The ministry is in the hand of the Lord. So the first responsibility is to him. They report to him before they report to men. Their chief concern is his assessment of their work (1 Cor. 4:2-5). They are “servants of all,” but it is “for Jesus’ sake” (2 Cor. 4:5).

The ministry is in the hand of the Lord. This is the key to its effectiveness. Campbell Morgan writes: “The stars are held in His right hand as symbols of the fact that ministry, to be effective, must be of heavenly character, revolving solely around the central sun.”