For ministry leaders, the new year brings fresh anticipation for where God will lead us next. As I approached the new year with my own hopes and expectations, God led me to Joshua 5:13-15. It’s the end of a 40-year trek in the wilderness. Israel has crossed the Jordan, they’ve built their rock memorial, they have celebrated Passover, and the manna has stopped coming. Israel is about to experience the first fruits of God’s promises to create a nation, provide a land and bless the rest of the world.
Why Worship Must Come Before Work in Ministry
But first there is a mission in front of them. There are battles to be fought. Joshua is the leader of these people, with limited experience and minimal resources.
While walking near Jericho, Joshua encounters a man with a raised sword. Joshua asks two questions that will significantly impact how he approaches the mission and his life.
First question: “Are you for us or for our enemies?” Friend or foe? In Joshua’s world, those were the only two options.
The answer: No. “Neither. But as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”
In God’s brief answer, two things were made clear: It is not Joshua’s mission, and it is not Joshua’s authority.
Joshua’s Encounter with God: A Lesson in Leadership
God had entrusted to Joshua something far greater. God’s concern was for all peoples in all places and times, and for His glory.
Joshua immediately realized he was in the presence of God, and he fell on his face. In that moment, he understood his first responsibility was not to command. It was to worship the Commander.
Second question: “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”
The answer: “Take off your sandals, for the place you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
In the midst of worship, God moved Joshua’s heart to submission and obedience. Joshua was now where God wanted him as Joshua prepared to lead a mission filled with years of daily realities and real-world difficulties.
Embracing God’s Mission Over Our Own
As we approach what’s ahead of us as ministry leaders, let’s remember to:
Worship. Our number one priority as individual followers of Jesus and together as the Church is to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord, to delight in His presence and to be captured by His magnificence. A true view of God, as He captures our hearts, is our best means for thriving in the details to which He has called us.
Remember this is God’s mission. We all have Jericho-sized opportunities in front of us. But God is fulfilling His redemptive purposes in each of our lives and on each of our mission fields. We do not invite Him into our mission, but rather embrace His mission. We step out in the power of the Holy Spirit and leave the results of God’s mission to God.
Practical Steps to Prioritize Worship in Ministry
As we face another year of victories and defeats, my prayer is that in every situation we will prioritize the worship of our Friend and Redeemer who has called us first to Himself and then to His redemptive purposes in the world.
Mark Gauthier serves as vice president and U.S. national director for Cru. Gauthier got his start with Cru as chaplain at Harvard University in 1986, just after leading a summer project behind the Iron Curtain in Romania. As a leader of leaders, Gauthier is passionate about encouraging and equipping believers to work together towards the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
