I read a verse that stopped me in my tracks this morning. The Holy Spirit arrested me. If I were completely honest, I'd have to admit that most of "my ministry" has been for God not to God. I don't think that is just semantics. It's a whole different paradigm. So many of us are so busy ministering for God that we rarely minister to God.
Ezekiel 44:16 wrecked me today: "They shall enter my sanctuary, and they shall approach my table, to minister to me, and they shall keep my charge." Makes me think of the original commission in Matthew 10. Before Jesus "sent them out" he called them "to him." I think one of the greatest dangers leaders face is this: we get focused on what God wants to do THROUGH us instead of what God wants to do IN us.
Are you ministering for God or to God?
I think it's both/and, but you better prioritize ministry to God.
Ezekiel 44:16 wrecked me today: "They shall enter my sanctuary, and they shall approach my table, to minister to me, and they shall keep my charge." Makes me think of the original commission in Matthew 10. Before Jesus "sent them out" he called them "to him." I think one of the greatest dangers leaders face is this: we get focused on what God wants to do THROUGH us instead of what God wants to do IN us.
Are you ministering for God or to God?
I think it's both/and, but you better prioritize ministry to God.
9 Comments:
The priests in the line of Zadok. Such a great lesson on loyalty and faithfulness.
I believe you wrote it the other day...It's not our external influence that we should be concerned with, it should be our internal capacity to hold God.
Ok, or something like that.
Thanks Mark. I also often ask myself as well...is this "for" God or "from" God...
Mark, I definitely agree that there is a difference between the two here. However, if someone asked me to give an example of ministering for God and an example of ministering to God I would be at a loss. Actually, I struggle a little with the thought that we can minister to God. Can you expand upon this a little further?
such a fine line Steve. Here's how I grappled with it yesterday. I think it's similar to the difference between thanking God for what He's done and WHO HE IS. Ministering to the Lord is blessing the Lord, exalting the Lord, worshipping the Lord. It's one-on-one with God.
My two cents,
Mark
It also reminds me of the verse from Acts 13:2 in the NASB where it talks about the church "ministering to the Lord and fasting" before the Holy Spirit set apart Paul and Barnabas.
Thanks Mark!
It is definitely easy to lose sight, for me at least, of who God is because I tend to focus so much on what he has done. Focusing on who he is will add quite a bit in the humility department, which I definitely need most of the time/all of the time. I would also say that there needs to be a balance between these two paradigms though.
Good words here and so true.
I once heard someone say "The calling of God does not exceed the God of the calling". Since the day I heard this I have been setting healthy boundaries in place that keep me in line with this thought.
we get focused on what God wants to do THROUGH us instead of what God wants to do IN us.
WOW....oh I'm thanking the Lord leading me here today.
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