As the EJM team was waiting to take the stage, I remember looking out at the enormous crowd. Wow! I had never seen so many people at an event that I was rapping at! The opportunities that I had been dreaming about for so long were finally coming to pass. And that’s when I heard it—God’s voice. With gentleness, He said, “What’s the point of having a big platform if you don’t even love the people you are ministering to?” That moment was definitely heart-checking!

When Jesus came, He brought the Kingdom way of life with Him—a way of life that involved giving more than receiving. Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus doing many great things for others without expecting anything in return. He wasn’t concerned about having a grand reputation or gaining recognition. He understood His identity and His role as Messiah. The idea of total submission wasn’t a threat to Him. All He cared about was working so that people would give glory to His Father in Heaven. Christ ministered to people from a place of wholeness; He didn’t need to take shine away from God to patch up insecurities (like we often times do). He was already secured in God. Because of His rich relationship with His Father, He was able to pour out love, giving more than He was receiving. We have to get to a place in our walk with God where we’re able to do the same.

Jesus told his disciples that the Kingdom was within them. The same goes for disciples today. This hits home for me as a rapper and minister. It means that as a Kingdom conduit, I must make sure that I’m using my influence and platform to point people to God, not myself. Every void that I have must be constantly filled with God’s presence so that I’m not using the praises of men and recognition as a substitute. I have to give to people out of love, not take from them out of insecurity.

That day in Arlington, when I finally had the chance to rap, I forgot my own lyrics! I found myself mumbling a part of my first verse, trying to get back on beat. LOL! There’s nothing like a nice slice of humble pie to keep you grounded. But you know what? After that ordeal, I still felt good! I recognized that I messed up, but I wasn’t trippin’ over it like I normally would because I knew that God still got His glory from the situation─and that’s all that mattered. My identity isn’t based on whether or not I can “kill it” on stage. I’m rooted in Jesus. Now, don’t get me wrong because I believe that practice makes perfect. Maybe next time, I’ll spend my morning practicing my set instead of cabbage-patching to 90’s music in my hotel room. (I was obviously excited that day. LOL!)

God is serious about His glory, so let’s be carriers of the Kingdom and give generously to the people we’re graced to minister to.

Live Zealous,

SonDaye

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT SONDAYE’S WEBSITE FEATURING MUSIC, VIDEOS, AND MORE!

It’s Sunday morning and it’s time to get ready for church. You found this fellowship that you really like, and you LOVE the worship there. You’re finally dressed, in your car, and playing your pre-game worship warmup list. You get to the service just in time to catch the first song. It’s your favorite! You’re feeling the presence of God. All is well until…

The band and singers stop halfway through the song. It’s over. It’s almost enough to make you get in the flesh.

Sometimes I wonder if that’s how God feels when He hears our worship.

I mentioned that God hears our worship. There’s so much that goes into the melody of our worship to God. And no, it’s not about voice control. In fact, the first time that the word “worship” is even mentioned in the Bible is not in relation to a song at all.

Genesis 22:5-6 says, “Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together.”

The first mention of worship actually had to do with sacrifice. When God looks at our worship, he doesn’t just look at how well we can spiritually connect with Him through a song. He looks at our sacrificial obedience to him in every area of life.

Ok, so…

Great worship songs: Check.

Personal, sacrificial obedience to God: Check.

We should be good now, right?

Not exactly. There’s something else that God looks for in His true worshippers. If He doesn’t find this, then everything else becomes an annoyance to Him. Amos 5:21-24 NLT reads: