The Marks of Gospel Ministry

“the poor have good news preached to them” (Luke 7:22)

This week’s passage is one that is never far away from my mind. John the Baptist sends messengers to ask if Jesus was the Messiah. He had doubts concerning the validity of Jesus’ claims, and he needs a mark, a certificate of authenticity. Jesus lists many things, but this one stands above the rest. “The poor have the good news preached to them.” It was the mark of Christ’s mission that He preached to the poor, and it was a taunt of His adversaries that He received sinners. Archibald Alexander (1772-1851) once said, “It is the solemn mark of every true gospel ministry that the poor have the good news preached to them.”

Note, “the mark of every true gospel ministry” is not running a food pantry, assembling a chainsaw ministry, or writing a check. These are great, helpful, and needed; however, an atheist can write a check. In fact, I would argue that they are easier. You can cut up all trees in the world with ear muffs near and the world far away, but to share the gospel requires you to get close, awfully close. Sharing the gospel requires us to “receive sinners.” Trust me – sinners are far messier than trees. One calls us to give of our time and our resources; the other calls us to give of ourselves (1 Th. 2:8).

Again, Archibald says, “It is the solemn mark of every true gospel ministry that the poor have the good news preached to them.” Does your ministry bear this mark? If you haven’t been afforded the opportunity, do you have the desire for it? Do you pray for it, look for it, and long for it?