You Had One Job
Have you ever seen those "You Had One Job" posters online? They usually show a simple task gone horribly wrong. Well, I think the Holy Spirit could post those around some church buildings.
We're all called to a specific mission, a singular purpose: to make disciples of Jesus Christ. That's the Great Commission, the ultimate goal. Yet, so often, we get sidetracked by lesser priorities.
The Great Commission and Reconciliation
"And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'" (Matthew 28:18-20)
In 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, Paul reminds us of our role in this mission:
"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."
The Heart of Christianity
C.S. Lewis once said, "The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs." It's a simple yet profound truth. Everything else—buildings, programs, traditions—is secondary.
In my ministry, I've seen countless debates over trivial matters: should we have a choir? Can children read Harry Potter? What should we wear when we preach? While these discussions are important, they pale in comparison to our primary mission.
How Do We Keep Our "One Job" Front and Center?
Be a New Creation: The first step is to embrace our new identity in Christ. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Find New Motivation: Our motivation should not be self-serving or people-pleasing. Instead, it should be rooted in our love for God and our desire to see His glory revealed. 2 Corinthians 5:14 says, “Christ’s love compels us.” If we keep God big and people small, we will learn to focus on the right priorities.
Focus on Renewed Ministry: Our ministry should be centered around reconciliation. We are ambassadors for Christ, called to bring people back to God.
Conclusion
Remember, our "one job" is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Everything else is secondary. Let's recommit ourselves to this mission and see the incredible impact we can make.
With You;
Pastor Tim
