I will explain what I mean about figs, but first I want to talk about excellence. The bible is clear that as Christians, we are called to walk in excellence, never mediocrity. Our thoughts are to be excellent. Our words are to be excellent. Our motives are to be excellent. Our habits are to be excellent. And the stewardship of our time, resources, and bodies are to be excellent. All because excellence is of the character and person of Jesus Christ. I for one, want to look a lot less like myself if it means I can look a little more like Him. Though I have been around and apart of "ministry" from a young age, I do not think I understood what an "excellent ministry" before the sight of the Lord looked like until these past couple weeks.

I cannot even begin to explain the respect I have for our ministry partners here in Antigua. Men and women wholeheartedly living and walking in the Spirit, and leading their families and children in the same hope. The most selfless individuals, early mornings and late nights dedicated to the service to the communities of Guatemala, to our squad, and above all, to the Lord. These people understand the price that was payed for their salvation, and count the cost every day of following the one who paid it.

They walk in such assurance that the Lord will fulfill every promise to them, and to all those called by His name. They believe that for me even more than I believe it for myself sometimes. They are so funny and don't take themselves too seriously, because they know exactly whom they have been created for. One of our hosts bought me a blue redbull yesterday, remembering the one time I said that it was my favorite flavor. They really know people, and love people, and point them over and over again to Jesus. That is what the ministry given to them is all about.

"We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather as servants of God, we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance, in troubles, hardships, and distresses." -2 Corinthians 6:3-4.

How does a ministry come into alignment so much with the heart of the Father that it is not a stumbling block for those who will hear the good news, or a source of pride for those serving? What I have witnessed from our ministry hosts these pasts couple weeks is exactly what Paul is taking about here. These are just a few examples.

They pray. Our ministry is called Antigua House of Prayer so that's not surprising. But they pray for hours and hours, week after week. They pray for countries and people groups that have never even crossed my mind to pray for. They pray to have a heart for people that they have never had a heart for. They pray for their city, and their country. They seek to know Gods heart for these people that their hearts might be inclined.

When they pray, they pray scripture. They know scripture and hide it in their hearts. They believe in the power of the divine word of God for healing, for change, and for redemption. They want it to be on earth as it is in heaven. In their homes as it is in heaven, and in their hearts as it is in heaven. To have a heart like this requires consistent endurance in troubles, hardships, and distress as Paul explains in the job description of a servant of God.

They want us to seek. Our hosts have said over and over again, "you cannot give what you have not received." They tell us that we will never find the strength in ourselves for ministry if we are not finding that strength in the secret place. We cannot believe in the fulfillment of scriptures for other nations if we do not seek to learn and know the scriptures when no one is watching, and to know God deeper just for the sake of knowing Him. Your fruit in ministry is a reflection of your time spent in the secret place.

Yesterday for ministry we went to a place called Prayer Mountain so that we could seek the Lord individually. I walked so far into the woods, that I had a difficult time finding the path to get back. I spend an hour laying on a fallen log, just looking up at the trees and chatting with God. I prayed for peace because my mind in that moment felt restless and cluttered and busy. After a while of just sitting in His presence, I ended up opening my bible to a random page and saying "God speak to me." (I don't do this very often because even though the entire Bible is the word of God, I usually end up opening to Leviticus or something) I flipped to Jeremiah 24 and started reading aloud.

"Then the Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” And I said, “Figs, the good figs, very good; and the bad, very bad, which cannot be eaten, they are so bad.” Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge those who are carried away captive from Judah, whom I have sent out of this place for their own good, into the land of the Chaldeans. For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land; I will build them and not pull them down, and I will plant them and not pluck them up. Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart." -Jeremiah 24: 3-7

Figs huh? Do you know what figs represent in the bible? PEACE. Peace, prosperity and blessing, because of the Lords blessing and provision. Crazy. Though I seldom feel it, God promises that His eye is on me for good, to plant me in His purpose, and to give me a heart to know Him. He wants us to have a heart that turns to Him over and over, all the days of our lives. Having a heart that knows Him is an open invitation for all people. It is the only way that we will ever be equipped for excellent ministry and excellent lives in His sight, only by His grace and mercy.