I remember several years ago now I got into a debate with a friend of mine about which was more important – mission or worship & study.

At the time, being a young pastor in my first call, I towed the party line and said that of course worship and study were at the heart of all we do. 

It was the easy answer. It was the safe answer. It was also the wrong answer.

What I failed to realize at the time was the Jesus taught us that how we serve others is at the heart of what we do. It has always been at the heart of what God has done and called us to do. Worship and study, they are mere moments of respite to give us greater tools in order to fulfill our true calling.

Our world right now is in a tizzy. It feels as though everything is up in the air and it is difficult to gain focus. What is more, even in the midst of a global pandemic, the holiday season is right around the corner and that brings its own stressful busy-ness.

So here’s a thought: if you do nothing else right now, take time to find a way to serve others.

I learned from one of our church’s mission partners that many of the other faith communities in our area are withdrawing from the program that guarantees gifts for children at Christmas in our city due to the pandemic. We are not. That’s something that I can help with. And I’m seeing what else I can do. But my friends…

There are people who are hungry.

There are people who are cold.

There are people who need shelter.

There are people who are alone.

There are people who are afraid.

There are animals who need help.

And businesses around us are making it easy to help, too – if you don’t feel like going out of your way.

So I encourage you, I implore you, find some way to serve right now. It will center you. It will give you the balance you need. Because at the end of the day, that is the most important thing we are always meant to be doing.

Cheers!