Worship on a Mission

We don’t have to look too far to see beautiful, vibrant examples of people who took God at His Word regarding their respective missions, because they’re literally everywhere. But I want to go straight to my favorite source for an intentional reason.

If we want to see a good example of someone using what they’ve got for the good of others and the Glory of God, we don’t have to look further than Jesus.

I love to watch where He goes and who He talks to; I love to see the weight of His words as they hit the people around Him. Right now, I’m sitting in a coffee shop with a ginormous smile on my face because even though today I’m a little tired, I’m remembering what Jesus did, and it’s bringing me an involuntary burst of joy.

If ever we feel burned out on religion or talk of God, please, Holy Spirit, stir us up to remember that Jesus was God in human form, God made flesh. He walked on earth and prayed for us and hung on a Cross and loved people with all He had. Help us to remember that He’s still alive and interceding on our behalf. Help us to picture His eyes, His hands, and His compassion.

Here’s what I know about Jesus: He was on mission. He knew He was the guy for the job.

Of all the people who would ever seek to serve others for the sole purpose of glorifying God, Jesus alone could do it in His own strength, as He was fully God. And yet He submitted Himself to the constraints of humanity so He could be fully present with us and step in as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.

So what does one do when one is completely divine and also living under the constraints of humanity? Jesus worshipped.

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was praying, Heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from Heaven: “You are My Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased.” — Luke 3:21-22

Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that You sent Me.” — John 11:41-42

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed. — Mark 1:35

We see a Jesus in Scripture who prays, goes away to spend time with God, worships and sings hymns with His disciples, talks to God corporately, gets honest with God, gets angry in front of God, cries out to His Father, and takes advantage of His access to God.

May it be the same for us, sisters.

May we take what we need from the throne room of grace as our intercessor offers it.

Now that we know what we have — Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God — let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all — all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to Him and get what He is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help. — Hebrews 4:14-16 MSG

You can worship on your way. You can talk to your Father as you go. You don’t have to read the Bible — you get to spend time with the Word of Life for wisdom and encouragement. This is your spiritual act of worship, your obedient offering of your gifts and strengths to the world for His glory and their good. But it’s also your worship, so don’t forget to take what you need on the way.

Excerpted with permission from You Are the Girl for the Job by Jess Connolly, copyright Jessica Ashleigh Connolly.

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Your Turn

Yes, we want to walk on mission. But, let’s worship on the way! Let’s not just do what God has set out for us to do, but do it focused on Him with joy and hope!