FEBRUARY 2025 PASTOR'S PONDERING

Jesus teaches us in the greatest commandment to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. These two commands are inseparable, but the priority is clear: we are called to love God first. It’s easy to become distracted by others' needs, placing them above God's will, which can lead us to prioritize human desires over God's divine plan.

As the church, our primary mission is to honor and glorify God, not to please people. The focus on God’s will should be the center of all we do. Without this focus, the church risks becoming just another social organization rather than the body of Christ. While loving others is important, our actions must be driven by God’s perspective, not by our limited understanding.

Jesus commands us to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20), and Paul urges us to spread the Gospel in every situation (2 Timothy 4:2). Our mission is not about pleasing others but about fulfilling God’s call. As Paul asks in Galatians 1:10, "Am I now seeking human approval, or God’s approval?" This challenges us to ensure that our actions align with God’s will, not others’ expectations.

In ministry, we must ask ourselves, “How would Jesus respond in this situation?” This requires prayerful discernment to align our hearts with God’s will. We must prioritize God’s mission, making decisions that reflect God’s intentions rather than the common notions of people, trusting that God’s purpose will guide us.

Let us commit ourselves fully to God’s mission, as Paul reminds us in Romans 14:8, "Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s." As we continue to carry the message of Christ to the world, let us pray for strength, wisdom, and discernment to fulfill the mission entrusted to us. May our ministry be faithful to God’s calling and pleasing in God’s sight. Amen.