gospel ministry

Like most of the country, a thick carpet of snow covers all our ground.

We have a lot of ground, including a sizeable car park, which slopes up and away from the hall. Drainage, accordingly, is not generally a problem.

But the downside comes when there's snow or ice. Park at the top of the slope (if you manage to get your car there) and there's a chance that your parked car will slide back down the slope of its own volition.

Having a huge big car park is great. But it's a lot to clear when there's been a heavy fall of snow. And since the doctors' surgery is right beside us and patients use the car park when they go there, we can't exactly leave it untended - a miry pit from which there's no way out.

I was out shovelling snow the larger part of the morning. I thought I'd make a start before the snow had got trampled down, so it was a half past seven start. And that was me 'til after 11am!

Mainly because every time I thought I'd call it a day someone else got stuck and I had to go and dig them out.

It seemed to me a graphic illustration of the essence of the work to which I'm called as a preacher of the gospel. Digging people out and setting them on the road again.

Psalm 40 puts it in that sort of way. "He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire (read 'snow and ice'): he set my feet upon a rock and gave me a firm place to stand."

That's what the Lord does, in and through the gospel. Digging people out seemed like a graphic illustration.

At the other end of the day, another illustration. I'd called by a couple to see if they needed provisions. While there, the lady of the house fell. It was just as well that I was there as she might have remained on the floor for a good long time otherwise!

As it was, we got her on her feet again, and all was safe and well. As I say, another illustration of the work of gospel ministry. Getting people back on their feet again.

We are a 'fallen' (and often 'falling') people. Jesus puts us on our feet again. Psalm 40 again - "he set my feet upon a rock, establishing my way"

Like clearing the snow and digging folk out of the slippery rut into which they've slid; like helping folk who have fallen back onto their feet again, the work of gospel ministry is hard and uses muscles you didn't know you had.

But there's more than a little satisfaction at the end result!