Week of: Sept. 14, 2025

Keeping Jesus Christ at the Center

In the journey of faith, it might appear unnecessary to repeatedly highlight the

importance of keeping Jesus Christ as the central focus in a Christian’s life. However, considering the current cultural climate, it becomes all the more essential to remind ourselves that Jesus must occupy the highest place in all aspects of our lives as believers. When we allow anything else to take precedence, we risk losing sight of the foundation of our faith.

The Challenge of True Commitment

Many individuals who identify as Christians—both in society and within our

churches—often feel at liberty to selectively determine how they want to follow Jesus. This selective approach can lead people to embrace teachings or practices that feel comfortable or convenient, while overlooking or even rejecting parts of Christ’s message that are more challenging or demanding. Such a “comfortable” walk with Christ inhibits spiritual growth. It is similar to claiming a commitment to healthy living through diet and exercise, but then only eating what we like and exercising at easy levels; this inevitably leads to poor physical health. A genuine walk with Jesus requires a deeper level of commitment. As we face choices in life, we are often confronted with the decision to either go along with the status quo or to surrender ourselves to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who leads us into the will of the Father. This surrender may bring discomfort, but it is essential for true spiritual growth and maturity.

Following Jesus’ Example

In the Gospel, Jesus declared, “I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My

judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” (John 5:20) As followers of Jesus, we are called to pursue His will in the same way Jesus pursued the will of the Father. We are to abide in Jesus, just as He abides in the Father, as described in John 15:1-11.

Jesus purposefully walked, talked and acted in His Father’s will even to death on a

cross. His obedience even unto death is what makes Him the Messiah, the Christ for all. In the Gospel of John Chapter 10 Jesus proclaims Himself to be the good Shepherd who lays His life for His sheep. No one takes His life, He willing lays it down. We see evidence of this in the Garden of Gethsemane when Judas Iscariot leads the High Priest to take Jesus on the night before they crucify Him. Peter takes a sword and cuts off the ear of Malchus, the servant of Caiaphas in an attempt to defend Jesus. Jesus rebukes Peter and heals Malchus’ ear. Jesus will not allow any violence to be associated with His laying down of His life as the Father willed.

Isaiah 53:10-11 says:

“Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. 11 He shall see the labor of His soul and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities."

It was impossible for Peter and the other disciples to comprehend that the crucifixion of Jesus was the Father’s will. Even now it is difficult for us to comprehend the love that God has for us that would allow His only Son to nailed to a cross for our salvation.

We cannot know the will of God in our lives any other way than diligently surrendering ourselves in trust and faith to His divine will. Only in a daily, even a moment to moment surrendering to what God has willed for us can we find the promised land. That place of milk and honey that He has prepared for us.

Grace and Peace

Pastor Joel