Holy Ground: Seeking the Glory of the Lord First

"Moses said, 'Please show me your glory.'" (Exodus 33:18)

For the past six years, I have had the privilege of serving on staff at The Door Church. During that time, I’ve had many roles, but none has brought me more joy than serving as Student Minister. These years have been filled with opportunities to lead, serve, learn, and grow. Looking back, one lesson stands above the rest: the best way to lead is to behold.

A quote I encountered a few years ago has stayed with me and shaped my understanding of ministry:

"Moses became more addicted to the glory of God than the Promised Land. That is what qualified Moses to lead God's people."

Whether the wording is perfect or not, the truth behind it is profound. Moses desired the presence of God more than the gifts of God. He sought the face of the Lord above the fulfillment of the promise. That did not make him indifferent toward God's people reaching the Promised Land; rather, it prepared him to care for them rightly. Only when God's glory occupies the throne of our hearts are we truly ready to lead His people.

That truth has become especially significant in this season of transition.

After much prayer and counsel with our elders, they affirmed my desire and encouraged me to pursue pastoral ministry elsewhere, particularly with a focus on preaching and teaching. Andrea and I have affectionately called this season "terrifying terrific." It is terrifying because it represents one of the hardest transitions we have ever faced. Yet it is terrific because we believe the Lord is leading us into a season that will further shape our obedience to His calling and His Kingdom.

As difficult as it is to leave, we know that the glory of the Lord must come first.

The Door Church has been a place of immeasurable grace in our lives. We were both saved here. We were discipled here. We built community here. We experienced the joy of Christ's body here. We were entrusted with opportunities to serve and grow here. We have witnessed countless evidences of God's grace—from student baptisms, a seminary graduation, our dear friends church planting and raising our own children within this church family.

Some of our most treasured memories are connected to a particular set of seats in the sanctuary. Like many creatures of habit, Andrea and I tend to sit in the same place each Sunday: front row, all the way to the right.

Those seats are special to us because they represent where our story at The Door began. When I first attended, Scott's mother, Jan Brooks, was one of the only familiar faces I recognized. She welcomed me warmly, embodying the command of Romans 15:7: "Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God."

Over the years, those seats became holy ground for us—not because of the chairs themselves, but because of what the Lord taught us there.

Week after week, The Door Church taught us that what matters most is the glory of God.

Before we can lead God's people, we must behold God's glory. Before we can serve faithfully, we must first be captivated by Christ Himself. Ministry begins not with activity but with adoration.

As Paul writes:

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:17–18)

This passage has become an anchor for us during this transition. The freedom we are experiencing right now is not the freedom of certainty about the future; it is the freedom that comes from fixing our eyes on Jesus. It is the freedom of knowing that His presence is better than any destination.

As the Lord instructed Aaron to bless Israel:

"The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you." (Numbers 6:25)

That shining face of Christ is what we seek most in this season. We know He must be preeminent in all things—not merely in our ministry plans, but first in our hearts.

The Door Church has consistently taught us that the gospel is of first importance. This gospel-centered vision is not merely for Sunday mornings. It shapes how we navigate everyday life, seasons of change, uncertainty, and new beginnings.

The good news of Jesus Christ sends us into the world as missionaries until the day He ushers in the glory of the new heavens and the new earth. Because of that, sacrifices are not ultimately sacrifices; they are investments in eternity. The sorrow of leaving beloved relationships is real, but it is accompanied by the joy of knowing that God's kingdom continues to advance and that others will come to know Christ through the obedience of His messengers.

As Andrea and I continue this journey, we covet your prayers.

Pray that Christ would continually remind us that His calling is more important than a career. Pray that we would seek His countenance above comfort. Pray that He would remain preeminent in every decision we make. Pray that our lives would remain on the altar for His use and His glory. Pray that He would open the door He desires us to walk through and grant us confidence and clarity when that time comes.

We believe the Lord is making His direction increasingly clear. Even the growing sense of peace and conviction we feel is a gift from His hand and evidence of His faithfulness. Wherever He leads us next, our desire is to carry with us what The Door Church has faithfully taught us: to call people to behold the glory of the Lord, to magnify Him as we belong together, and to be transformed by His gospel as we become like Him.

The destination is not the point.

The glory of the Lord is.

And by His grace, we will continue moving forward, beholding His glory and being transformed—from one degree of glory to another.

Mark McPherson