When I get lost in all the things that I have to do about ministry- who to call, who to touch base with, which problem to solve, which person to pray for, which talk to prepare, I always find myself searching for a foundation. This is what I come back to. Please let me share it with you.
In 2 Corinthians 3 Paul tells the story of Moses spending time in the presence of God on Mount Sinai. He spent so much time there that he literally glowed when he came back down to the Israelites- and they could not handle it. They asked him to put a veil over his face so that this glory that was too great was hidden. “Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. …And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord who is Spirit. Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.”
Ministry? Ministry!? Yes, ministry. Being transformed with an unveiled face into the likeness of Christ is ministry. In youth ministry this is it. When the chips are down this is what matters, this is what we have to bring as youth ministers: our lives and our relationships with Christ. The call is so very clear- we are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face. So I always come back to asking myself two very simple questions. “Am I actively pursuing my relationship with Christ for its own sake?” and “Am I being vulnerable and honest about that journey with the students God has placed in my life?”
youth are not aliens, but their daily life real questions may seem so to some, but not the lord. he is there 24-7-365 with quality answers on their level our free SPREAD THE WORD TALK WITH THE LORD program inspires daily talks YM using our free song lyrics g. hubbard p.o. box 2232 ponte vedra fl 32004 http://talkwiththelord.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteFunny, my Bible study group (and when I say that I mean the family of 3 Nate and I gather with) was just talking about this passage. We had a bit of a debate regarding WHY Moses veiled his face. I feel like my Sunday School flanel board version was kind of rocked with our conclusion, which was that though the people were afraid of his glow, that's not why he put on a veil. Instead, it was because he was ashamed that the glory was fading. (Ex34)
ReplyDelete"Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away." He was afraid (the opposite of boldness)because his glory faded. Maybe because the people would stop listening to him? But we follow Christ and our boldness never fades--his glory in us through the Spirit is eternal!! Yeaah!