President's Blog

Right about now you’re realizing your New Year’s Resolutions have largely been forgotten. So I’m kindly reminding you. 

One resolution I’m hoping is on your list is to take better care of yourself in 2024. We’re far too busy.

We live in a culture that is in a hurry. We can pack a pile of stuff into our schedules. Our society is obsessed with going faster. We buy products because their name indicates speed:

• We ship thins with Federal EXPRESS.
• We balance our cheque book using QUICKEN.
• We even diet with Slim FAST.

So many things in our daily lives are biting at our ankles. Too many responsibilities. Far too many obligations to be carried out. The silly thing is, for many of us, we see the busyness as normal. We rarely have enough time to get everything done and that feels normal.

Jesus said in John 10:10 (NLT): “My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.” Some of us have misunderstood this verse. Jesus wasn’t referring to a “full” schedule in this verse. Jesus has something else in mind. He was speaking of a life characterized by “abundance”. Jesus certainly knew what it was like to be busy, even overwhelmed. Just a gentle reminder: you’re not a Saviour. Stop trying to act like one. The pressure will kill you; certainly it will make your life feel very unsatisfying in 2024.

One day, Jesus looked at a group of people who looked busy and tired and made them a promise: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me–watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30, The Message)

Notice the phrase “watch how I do it”. I need to watch how Jesus lived life if I’m ever to experience the promised “abundance”. I need to think differently. One area to remember if I’m ever going to discover abundant living in 2024, is the need to constantly remind myself where I get my value.

Crumple up a 100-dollar bill. Then stomp on it and grind it in the dirt and you’ll discover everyone will still want it. It still holds its value. It has not decreased in value despite its treatment. No matter what happens to you in 2024, in ministry or your personal life, your value will not diminish. It may feel like a meat grinder this year, but know that your value to your Heavenly Father hasn’t diminished one bit. We never lose our value in God’s eyes. We always remain the apple of His eye. No matter what others say to you this year, it is His opinion that counts! “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?” Matthew 6:26 (NLT)

Jesus is saying you matter to Him. We are very valuable. We are loved. We’re not more valuable or loved if we perform for His love. I stay super busy seeking value. If I do and go and achieve, I gain my value. God says, “Time Out!” I love you with a whole set of different rules. God’s love is not based on doing. There is nothing I can DO to make God love me more, and conversely, there is nothing I can do to make God love me less. God says we’re valuable not because of what we do but because of who we are. We seek to gain our value in life someplace it was never meant to be found. We put our value in a counterfeit. In my ministry. My marriage. My children and grandkids. My achievements. People’s favour. My health. My bank account.

But our value is found solely in the Lord. In an abiding, current and intimate heathenship with Jesus. Get this one right in 2024 and most everything else will fall into place quite nicely.