Relationship > Ministry

What you do for Jesus will never be more important than your relationship with Him. We weren’t created for ministry, we were created for a relationship with our Creator.  

Being involved in ministry doesn’t mean you are in relationship with Jesus, just like being religious doesn’t mean having a relationship with Jesus.

I know, it stings a little (maybe a lot) to hear, but it’s true. In fact, I think one of the saddest and most alarming statistics if we knew it exactly would be the amount of people involved in ministry (both in and outside of the church), yet walking outside of relationship with the One who they claim it’s all about. The amount of people proclaiming Jesus’ name or even standing on platforms during worship services that don’t really know Him at all is truly heartbreaking. The amount of people posting about Him on social media but not walking in obedience to His word behind the screen is devastating. If it’s heartbreaking to me, I can only imagine how heartbreaking it is to Him. Not only is it heartbreaking but it’s dangerous to this generation. 

I fear that many see ministry as an opportunity to be seen instead of an opportunity to point in to Jesus.

How did we get here? I believe it's a direct result of out of order priorities and pursuits.

Please don’t misunderstand my heart. I am not in any way suggesting that we aren’t called to ministry and serving because we absolutely are. We are all called to move God’s Kingdom forward on earth as it is in Heaven. You should be serving. You should be involved in ministry in some capacity, especially at your local church and in your community. You should be using the gifts He has given you and taking every opportunity you are given to point in His direction. Each and every one of us as believers should be fulfilling the Great Commission as He instructed, but if we are doing all of these things and not walking in relationship with Him every day and in every moment, we’re doing it wrong. Relationship with us is what He desires most. It’s what He created us for, so I say this in love…

If ministry is your first priority, your first priority is wrong. 

(Especially) to those of you like myself who are in full time ministry or very actively involved in ministry, make sure you don’t start seeing your relationship with Jesus as just a job or an obligation. Don’t allow what you do to allow you to grow numb to the “WHO” and “WHY.” Don’t lose the awe and wonder of who He is and what He has done for you personally. Don’t prioritize a position above relationship with Jesus. Don’t pursue platforms over time in His presence.

It is from a place of relationship with Jesus that we should respond to His call. How can you really be following His voice if you aren’t in His word or don’t stop long enough to listen to what He is saying? I’ve felt a heavy burden to share a remind you that

His design and intention is not to be disconnected from you. 

He has called you and He wants to use you for His glory, but first and foremost, He wants to know you and He wants you to know Him. You are His mouthpiece, but first, you are His child. First, you are called to love Him with all your heart, soul, and mind. 

There’s nothing more important than relationship with your Savior. Prioritize knowing Him. Spend more time in the secret place with Him than anywhere else. Put loving Him first in your life and allow Him to lead you to what He has called you to do for His glory.

Don’t trade nearness to Him for anything. It’s in nearness to Him that abundance is found.

Ministry isn’t the main thing. Jesus is. Let’s put Him in His rightful place.

Maddie Joy

Scripture references:

“When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Matthew 22:34-40

 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ Matthew 7:21-23