10 suggestions to keep Jesus first

There are only 10 commandments. God alone makes commandments that can transcend times and cultures. We aren’t so audacious to think we could come up with similar commands for keeping Jesus first in restoring people to Him through outreach ministry. But, these principles have helped us greatly and God has used them mightily in bringing true & lasting restoration to people. They are further explained in the daily devotional along with practical application in ministry. The restorative daily devotional is available on the BCNE’s Restorative Ministries web page. I hope you will enjoy this taste, and continue to farther explore the complete devotional. These are just suggestions you could use in God’s call to reconciliation through word and deed.

“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:18–20, ESV).

1. Genuinely rely on God. The real work of restoration is His from beginning to the end. We are simply cooperating with and joining God in His work! (Ephesians 2:10).

2. Keep the Gospel and Jesus central. God has given us His message of reconciliation. We are God’s ambassadors to all around us, especially the lost, marginalized and forgotten. (1 Samuel 2:8).

3. Keep word and deed together. This is what Jesus modeled, what He told the disciples to do on their first short term missions trip and what the early church/leaders adopted. It is especially important in areas antagonistic to the Bible, Jesus or God’s ways. (Colossians 3:17).

4. Make prayer a genuine part of ministry. Let God show Himself real, caring, and powerful through His answers to prayer. (1 John 5:14).

5. Change the environment from a transactional one to a personal one. Be authentic. While people will more freely share their physical needs, it often takes a personal relationship before they share their real thoughts and needs. (Ephesians 4:1-32).

6. Practice generosity. Don’t be guarded with resources. Don’t wait until you figure everything out before you start helping. (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).

7. Seek restoration of the whole person. Never do anything for someone that they could do for themselves – don’t grow dependency. Help them become givers and helpers themselves. (Titus 3:5)

8. Treat all people with dignity. (1 Peter 2:17).

9. Don’t become rules based. Avoid making rules, keep two rules ‘Love God and love others’. (Matthew 22: 37).

10. Let your understanding of how God restores people (the restoration process) grow in your own mind through Scripture, examples of those God restores, and the experiences God gives you. (Romans 12:2).

Dan Molind is the Restorative Ministries Coach at Baptist Churches of New England.