This past week and weekend was filled with time for reflection about what guides our ministry, or at least, should guide our ministry.
In today’s church culture, it’s easy to get caught up in the mindset that a local church’s distinctives guide it’s ministry. In other words, the things that set us apart from other churches and ministries, the things that make us unique, are the things that we should keep coming back to as we discern God’s call for our community. So maybe for Awake, it would be stuff like our commitment to Aurora, like a community garden and BBQ’s, like building relationships with people who call motels and vans ‘home’, like a more organic approach to community, like a commitment to justice. Like, a lot of stuff. Good stuff, too. Stuff that Jesus has called Awake to be about.
Yet none of these things should guide or ministry. It seems obvious, right? Our ministry should never guide… our ministry. But I know what should. Or, I should say, who should.
God has given followers of Jesus his Spirit, his Presence.
My prayer for Awake (one that I would welcome you to join us in praying) is that we would be people who recognize that our distinguishing mark as God’s people – the one thing we have to offer the world – is God’s loving and powerful and life-bringing Presence.
I don’t want us to go forward without and without acknowledging God’s Presence.
Nor can we.
12 Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”
14 The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”
17 And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”
18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
Yes, Lord, now show us your glory…