"After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry." (Acts 21:19)
After many years among the nations, making disciples, Paul returned to Jerusalem. He reported to the church. He told them "one by one the things God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry."
Things God had done. Paul went to testify of Christ. As he did, he witnessed God's work. Every time someone submitted in faith to Jesus, every time a door was opened for the gospel, and every time a church was established, Paul felt he was watching God work.
It was all "through his ministry," of course, but to Paul it was not accomplished by his ministry. He was an instrument, a tool in the hand of God. God was doing things, and Paul rejoiced to be part of God's work on earth. Paul was merely the conduit through which God decided to get the job done.
We celebrate Paul's life. He said yes to a great adventure with Christ. His willingness to go, his holiness, and his courage all stand out to modern believers. We love Paul.
But we must also recognize the work was accomplished through Paul, but by God. And God is looking for humans with whom he can partner today. Those humans must know the work is of and by God. He gets the work done by his Spirit.
May this perspective guide our ministries, workplaces, and families. To raise a child as God's instrument, to lead a cluster of employees for God, to serve others in Christ's name -- all of it is God's work. Let's allow him to work through us, yielding ourselves to him every day.
