The Holy Scriptures clearly and consistently show that God does not act independently of people; rather, He makes use of those whom He Himself calls. From the prophets of the Old Testament to the apostles of the New Testament, God had His Truth proclaimed through His servants.

This gives the Church an important and serious responsibility not only to respect the ministry but to actively support it—spiritually (through prayer), practically, materially, and with a sincere, grateful attitude, including direct words of encouragement and appreciation.

God is a God of order. In 1 Corinthians 14:33, we read that God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. He has established offices to teach, lead, and strengthen His Church.

In Ephesians 4:11-12, the Bible states:

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…”

These callings do not come from people, but directly from God. Therefore, those who support the ministry are ultimately not supporting people, but the Work of God Himself and the proclamation of the Gospel. The ministry exists for the Church to lead it spiritually, to teach it, and to strengthen it. Where there is no spiritual leadership, by whom should the Church be led? As it is also written in Proverbs 11:14 (New Jerusalem Bible):

“For want of leadership a people perishes, safety lies in many advisers.”

This biblical passage clearly shows how important spiritual leadership and guidance are for God’s people.

God’s Work is not carried by human ideas, but by the obedience of those whom God calls and by the support of those who recognize this Work. The Church plays an active role in this.

In Hebrews 13:17, we are urged to acknowledge spiritual leadership and to cooperate with it, for the ministry watches over the souls of the believers: “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”

What a tremendous responsibility this entails!

Some ministers invest their time, their energy, and often their entire lives in the service of the Church. That is why it is of central importance to support the ministry in prayer. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:25: “Brethren, pray for us.” But this prayer should not be general or superficial. A particularly important expression of support is specific prayer for the ministry, especially in times of weakness and illness.

When ministers fall ill or are physically afflicted, it should be a matter of course for the Church to consciously pray for them before God. The ministry is often under special pressure—spiritually, physically, and emotionally. It is precisely then when they need the intercession of the Church.

The Bible calls on us: “Bear one another’s burdens…” (Galatians 6:2).

This also applies especially to those who perform a special service. When a minister is ill, it affects not only that person; it affects the entire Church.

When Mr. Armstrong was still alive, it was a matter of course to pray for him personally in opening or closing prayers, asking God to protect Mr. Armstrong, to inspire him, to give him strength, and to heal him, etc. Today, when a minister is seriously ill, he should be mentioned by name in the opening or closing prayer, thereby making it clear that the Church understands his work and role, which perhaps can only be carried out by him at this time. A general prayer “for the ministry” may not adequately convey the gravity of the situation for seriously ill or suffering ministers in such circumstances.

Through our prayer, we show that we understand: God’s Work depends not only on those who preach, but also on those who faithfully intercede for them. Such prayers bring strength, comfort, and often healing as well. They unite the Church and demonstrate genuine spiritual fellowship.

But support goes even further. The Bible makes it clear that material help is also part of it. In 1 Corinthians 9:14, we read:

“Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.”

This is not a human concept, but a spiritual principle. Those who support God’s Work are themselves blessed, whether through financial or practical help, or personal commitment.

One point that is often underestimated but of great spiritual significance is gratitude.

It should be a matter of course for every believer to consciously express thanks for the sermons and the work of the ministry. A sermon is not simply a lecture. It is spiritual nourishment that is prepared with prayer, study, and an awareness of responsibility before God.

When the ministry teaches, admonishes, and encourages week after week, it is right and necessary to acknowledge this.

A sincere thank you can make a big difference. It strengthens, it encourages, and it shows that the work is not taken for granted.

The Bible expressly calls for this attitude:

“And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord… and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).

Gratitude is an expression of respect and humility. It shows that we recognize that God works through His servants.

In this regard, one’s inner attitude is crucial. Support should not come from a sense of duty, but it must emanate from a sincere heart.

2 Corinthians 9:7 states: “…God loves a cheerful giver.”

Those who understand that they are part of God’s Work will support it with joy—in prayer, in service, and also in grateful acknowledgment.

At the same time, Scripture warns us against adopting a critical attitude that sows discord. Respect, humility, and a constructive attitude are crucial for the unity of the Church.

This does not mean that the ministry is infallible. But it does mean that we should approach it with a supportive and respectful attitude.

In summary, it is clear that supporting the ministry is an essential part of the Christian life. It includes prayer, especially during times of illness, practical help, material support, and sincere gratitude. For ultimately, it is not about people—it is about God’s Work.

God carries out His Work through people, but He works powerfully through those who are willing to support, give, pray, and to be grateful. The crucial question, therefore, is not whether God’s Work receives support, but whether we do our part faithfully, willingly, and with a grateful heart.

(Initial translation: Daniel Blasinger)

Everything in our life occurs in the present moment. Because of this, it can be a challenge to keep the events of life in context of the bigger picture.

In my family, our young boys’ lives are centered around play and snacks. Just about every decision, complaint, and desire of theirs focuses on satiating their hunger for fun and food in the moment. Our older sons, now grown young men, have matured beyond the self-indulgent appetites to have concerns focused on starting their journey into adulthood. As such, being interested in their well-being, my wife and I bring those concerns into our own lives. Their concerns become ours too. In addition to our investment in their upbringing, we have myriad other concerns that we have accumulated from our own grown-up responsibilities we’ve picked up along the way. Things like the Work of the Church, employment, physical health, home ownership and much more put demands on our time. I bring this up to illustrate the up-close micro details that consume our attention, bring us delight, stress us out, and consume the resources of our days. This is what our lives consist of in the moment: Getting to work on time, getting food on the table, coaching our children to shape their lives.

In an up-close view, the substance of concern in our lives becomes magnified by the demands of our daily activities. The molehills of concern are mountains in the moment. Even the most trivial kind of problem, such as a wrong turn on the way to an appointment is the most important thing in the moment. In the close-up view, our activities appear to be an accumulation of little things right in front of us.

To say this is not to diminish the importance of our immediate attention, physically, mentally, nor emotionally. The little things really are important! People must necessarily operate on the little things that are right in front of them. Our interface with the world is limited to that which we can directly affect. All we can do is work with the moment, material, and people which are immediately before us. A journey of a thousand miles requires taking one step after the other.

The Bible makes it clear that the little things matter in our lives and also explains why they matter. “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much” (Luke 16:10). The way that we live in the moment reflects how we live in the larger context! In this passage in the Bible, Jesus Christ explains that the principles that govern our behavior apply both at small and large scales. We use the same source of faith for the small things as the large. Likewise, if we make justifications for sins because we consider them to be small and insignificant, we may be prone to make justifications for all other sins too. The little things matter because they are part of a mosaic in a much larger picture. 

The least of our actions takes place in the context of God’s plan for us. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Our kindness to another in a passing moment is an expression of brotherly love that has the power to lift their heart, improve their day, and even change their life. The negative examples hold true as well. A hurtful word to another can damage trust in the span of a second and take years to repair. Therefore, our actions in the moment need to be considered in a much broader spectrum than our close-up view allows. God is working with us in our lives to help us learn and grow.

When considering the details of our lives in the moment, what should the scope of our perspective be? How far should we zoom out to properly see the setting of our momentary actions? It is no exaggeration to say that we need to view our moments in the context of the plan of God that He has for the entirety of creation. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God” (Romans 8:18-19).

Knowing that everything we experience in the moment is part of God’s master plan ought to give us great comfort. Our struggle, joy, boredom, and excitement take place in the context of something big. We may get wrapped up in the magnified concern of the moment, but those things only matter in their purpose to help us to grow into the children that God is helping us to become.

In a world like this, which we all have to live in, we often find it hard to accept certain situations for what they are. Not everything can be understood, explained, or even changed. Many paths are rocky, many decisions are difficult, and some burdens must be carried for longer than one could ever have expected.

As the saying goes: There’s nothing in this world that comes easy. Everything that truly matters – trust, love, patience, maturity, or inner strength – usually arises from trials, disappointments, or experiences that shape us. Yet it is precisely in these moments that the depth of life reveals itself: that people do not grow only on good days, but often especially on the difficult ones.

Recently, I read something that really got me thinking. The words stirred something within me, as if a process had been set in motion deep within my thoughts – one that was necessary to bring about real change.

Sometimes you come across phrases or thoughts that don’t just touch you for a brief moment but continue to work within you. They put their finger on something that may have been slumbering within us for a long time. And that is precisely when this change begins – not on the outside, but first on the inside, in our thinking, our hearts, and our view of ourselves and how we live.

The phrase was: “Learn to accept the things you cannot change, have the courage to change the things you can change, and the wisdom to distinguish one from the other.”

This quote can touch upon one of humanity’s deepest inner struggles, perhaps prompting us to ask ourselves: “What should I make peace with, and what should I continue to fight for?”

Most people suffer not only when facing very serious problems, but often also when they try to control things that are beyond their power. Things like the past, other people’s behavior, injustice or illness, loss through death, or other unpleasant events. And that is precisely where discouragement, bitterness, anger, or despair can sometimes arise.

And that is exactly when we must say: “Do not give up but recognize your limits and do not waste your strength on things that God has not placed in your hands.” This is precisely what Jesus Christ spoke about, and the Bible generally has a great deal to say on the subject.

For example, in Matthew 6:25, 27, we read an appropriate statement by Jesus Christ: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life… Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?”

In this way, Christ shows us that people often desperately try to grasp hold of things they cannot control at all. At the same time, the Bible also teaches us not to live passively.

God said in Joshua 1:9:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

And in Romans 12:21, Paul wrote: “…overcome evil with good.”

This means: Acceptance does not mean approving of everything. Humility is not weakness and letting go does not mean indifference. The difficulty lies in recognizing: When do I continue to fight out of love for the Truth, and when am I merely fighting out of disappointment, pride, anger, or a wounded ego?

The Bible strongly links this wisdom with humility. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 3:5:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding…”

Humans often see only a small piece of the mosaic, while God sees the whole picture. And that is precisely why we should not seek our peace in wanting to control or determine everything, or in impatiently demanding something that is not our responsibility, but rather, in trusting completely that God will ultimately make everything right.

In Philippians 4:11-13, Paul wrote:

“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

This is precisely what deep spiritual maturity looks like. Not every external situation should be allowed to influence and dictate our inner peace. Sometimes, of course, people cling to things—to friends and family, to times past, to recognition, to control, or to ideas about life—even though much of it has long since been broken and is even predestined.

Yet it is precisely this desperate clinging and controlling that can often cause even more harm.

Solomon describes something similar in Ecclesiastes 3:1 with the words: “To everything there is a season” – a time to build and to tear down, to gain and to lose, to hold on and to let go.

This is often difficult because people seek security. Yet spiritual maturity is often shown in the realization that we do not have to control or change everything to find peace.

And perhaps this is the hardest lesson of our lives: God wants us to learn to accept the fact that not every wound heals, not every question is answered, and not everyone acts justly – and that we must not let our hearts become discouraged or hardened because of it.

Initial translation: Daniel Blasinger

There are many different positions in the Church as there are many different positions in life. Are some more important than others, or is there more involved in this question? Some may think they do not have a large part to play, or that they are too weak, or too old, or even too new in the Church to have much significance in the operation of the Church, but they could be very wrong. 

Someone may think that because she is a woman, she is less important, but this can be far from the Truth. Consider that Eve was created to be a help to Adam (Genesis 2:18, 20; Authorized Version), and this could be considered a position of lower importance. However, we read Psalm 33:20, “Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.” The Hebrew for help is the same in both Genesis 2 and Psalm 33. So, when we consider that God is our help, being a help is highly significant, in no way to be looked down on. 

We can look at the example of Moses when he was assisting people who were inquiring of God. He was doing this all day from morning to evening. His father-in-law Jethro gave Moses sound advice which is described in Exodus 18:21-22, “Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you.”

In order for Moses not to be worn out, he needed helpers, so he could concentrate on the more important or difficult things. This is certainly the case in the Church where a minister may not be competent in every physical area, or able to do everything by himself, and a helper is very important so that he can concentrate on preaching. At the beginning of the Worldwide Church of God, Mr. Herbert Armstrong only had his wife, Loma, as a helper, and the two of them did everything required, even addressing envelopes to post the literature they had printed. But as the Church grew, this became impossible; they needed many more helpers to assist in the Work, and God provided those helpers. Without these helpers, the Church could not have grown as it did.

One may think he or she is too old or too young to be of great service, but let us read James 5:16, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” Age is not a limitation here. And although it reads as man in the New King James Version, we know that from 2 Corinthians 6:18 (“I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty”), that the term man may also include woman. Many translations use person, or even believer in place of man in James 5:16. This concept is explained, in this context, in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” So, the prayers of both men and women can be equally effective.

A newly baptized person can take heart in the parable in Matthew 20:9-15, where those who worked all day received the same reward as those who worked only one hour. The condition for effective prayer is only righteousness and fervency, not length of Church membership.

The apostle Paul sums up this issue in 1 Corinthians 12:13-22, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free – and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased, And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.”

From this we see that every member has a part to play in the operation of the Church, and God has determined the appropriate position for each as He pleases. The position may change over time, depending on individual growth or necessity, or even old age, but every member is a necessary part of the body of Christ. All have a part to play, regardless of position.

What does God expect of us?

We have an individual responsibility to respond to God’s calling with expectation and faith, for He has called each of us for a reason: to fulfill the plan He has for us. To take it personally, we are responsible for ourselves and for our salvation, because we choose for ourselves whether we will obey God. Nobody else can determine that for us. We will all give an account for our actions. 

2 Corinthians 5:10 says that we will ALL appear before the judgment seat of Christ, “that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” God is interested in each of us individually, in how we have lived our lives, and in whether or not we are counted worthy to be part of His Family. Does God count us worthy enough to be in His Family?

When we go before God in prayer, we must truly repent of our sins. We have to do this again and again because we constantly sin, and therefore, we must always examine ourselves and how we live our lives. If we forget to do that, it becomes easier to slip up while also forgetting to ask God for forgiveness. We must be strong-willed and have a clear, focused mind. We need to continue asking God for strength and for more of His Holy Spirit, just as David did over and over again.  

Sometimes it is difficult to keep out of someone else’s matters; especially, when it comes to our own spiritual salvation. There is nothing wrong with trying to help another person when he or she is slipping, but we must be careful that we do not slip ourselves. In Galatians 6:1-5, we read, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.”

We need to concentrate on how WE are going to make it since each of us will give an account of ourselves to God (Romans 14:12).

The concept of personal responsibility is taught in the Bible. Ezekiel 18:20 says: “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.” Isaiah 3:10-11 (NIV) also states: “Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds. Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done.”

God clearly defined what is right and wrong from the beginning of the Bible with Adam and Eve, and He still expects His people to do what is right today. Everyone who has sinned along the way has been held responsible for his or her actions, just as we are responsible for ours. There were times when people tried to avoid personal responsibility by blaming others. Adam tried to blame Eve, Eve tried to blame Satan, and so on. We cannot fool God, and attempts to pass the blame to others when we ourselves have sinned will not work. We cannot hide our sins either: “But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).

When God specifically commands what we are to do, He expects us to obey. Those who choose to reject the Truth of God are without excuse, as Romans 1:20 (NIV) points out: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”  

We must do what we need to do and continue to fulfill our responsibility.

Following the news can be somewhat depressing when you read about what is happening in this world and our nations. The war is still going on in Ukraine, with bombs destroying residential buildings which have nothing to do with the war, and innocent men, women and children are killed who are also not involved in the war, but are victims of the senseless killing associated with war. The Iranian regime has killed over 20,000 of its people for protesting and wanting a better life. The Iran war is still dragging on, with no clear goal and no end in sight, and many innocent people have been killed in the process as well. The same can be said about Israel’s continuing war with Lebanon.

The brutality of how North Korea executes people with the use of hammers and other cruel methods, for as little as falling asleep during the leader’s speech, is appalling. A Senator questioned a pro-life activist and asked the woman which method of abortion she preferred, describing four barbaric and evil methods used by abortion clinics too gruesome to describe in this Editorial. It makes one sick to read about their methods of murdering the unborn. Every day you hear about shootings in some major cities where an innocent child was killed in the crossfire of gangs, and seniors are being pushed onto subway railway tracks. An innocent woman was stabbed to death on a subway train, minding her own business and just trying to get to her destination. There are no-go zones in some cities because of the danger of injury or death.

What is this world coming to?

Thankfully, one of the first things Christ will do at His return is to put an end to war by totally crushing the armies gathering around Jerusalem. The only language which this war-adoring world understands is overwhelming godly power. You can read the encouraging outcome in Isaiah 2:4: “He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.”

Children will not be taught from their youth to hate people of other ethnic or national backgrounds they may feel superior to, including the Jews, the Muslims, the Americans, the Russians, the Germans, the Mexicans, the Japanese or the Chinese, just to name a few. They will turn their swords, battleships, tanks, war planes, and missiles into implements of peace. Nuclear bombs will be destroyed or perhaps neutralized, if possible, to put the metal to good use. Arms will be burnt.

In the book of Ezekiel, Far Eastern nations are described to invade the Promised Land shortly after Christ’s return. But Christ will make a swift end to that futile attempt. Ezekiel 39:9 states: “Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelins and spears; and they will make fires with them for seven years.”

The bombed cities will be rebuilt. Isaiah 61:4 says: “And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.”

Instead of devising ways to kill people, mankind will use their energies and talents to rebuild the ruins and supply everything needed in houses to be functional for the use of families.

Will the streets be safe? Zechariah 8:3-5 tells us: “Thus says the LORD: ‘I will return to Zion, And dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, The Mountain of the LORD of hosts, The Holy Mountain.’ “Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Old men and old women shall again sit In the streets of Jerusalem, Each one with his staff in his hand Because of great age. The streets of the city Shall be full of boys and girls Playing in its streets.’”

Quite a contrast from what we see today.

You can understand why it mentions the creation “crying out” for better things to come, as described, figuratively, in Romans 8:19-23:

“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption [better: sonship], the redemption of our body.”

The creation “groans” for better things, and so do we. We look forward to the return of Christ to put an end to this madness in this evil world ruled by Satan.

Let’s not forget our crucial part in this future process by fervently praying to the Most High God, “Your kingdom come!”—which cannot come soon enough for us and the whole world.

When Jesus was here on earth, He observed many who were forsaken and alone. His reaction in Matthew 9:36-38 was telling: “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’”

The multitudes were weary, despaired, depressed, distressed, without hope, exhausted and harassed—also because of the lack of true and meaningful teachings from true shepherds. They were fatigued, resulting from being burdened. They were abandoned and neglected.

It is no different today. Most people are truly alone and under a terrible yoke which is wearing them down. But there is a way out of such predicaments. Christ told His disciples to ask the Father to provide laborers for a plentiful harvest—laborers who would teach and manifest the way of compassion, peace and rest. Christ came to find who was lost (Luke 19:10), and His disciples are to follow His example—to care for, tend and lead His sheep (John 21:15-17); and not to behave like unprofitable, uncaring shepherds (Ezekiel 34:4-5).

That way towards rest can only be found in Jesus. He told all of us in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Christ told us to lay down the crushing yoke of sin, and receive His yoke instead. It reflects submission to His authority, His guidance and teachings, as well as partnership with Him—and to learn from His example of compassion, humility and gentleness. His yoke is easy and light because He carries its weight with us—we do not have to carry it alone.

Christ was not talking about heavy burdens which are hard to bear; especially those burdens inflicted on us by wrong teachers (Matthew 23:4). Rather, His commandments are light—not burdensome (1 John 5:3). This might perhaps not appear to be the case at first, as we are burdened by lifelong habits of sin. At the beginning, the road to life may be “difficult” (Matthew 7:14). But it will become more and more a “light” affliction in comparison with the “eternal weight of glory” to be revealed in us (2 Corinthians 4:17). Taking up our cross and following Jesus (Matthew 16:24) is so much easier than carrying our cross alone. The cross which we will have to carry is our separation from our sin and wrong priorities (Mark 10:21). The cross which we all carried in the past was our cross or heavy burden of our sinful conduct.

With Christ, our walk will be so much easier. Isaiah 41:13 tells us: “For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’”

We walk hand in hand with God, as it were, in partnership and agreement, because two cannot walk together unless they are agreed (Amos 3:3). We walk or better LIVE with God. We follow Christ wherever He goes (Revelation 14:4).

If you have not found the true God in your life, but really want to live with Him and be freed from your burdens and fears, seek God with all your heart, as He tells you in Jeremiah 29:11-13: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

When you really want to love God and seek Him diligently, seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness, then you will find Him (Matthew 6:33; Proverbs 8:17). And He WILL give you rest for your souls.

For those of you who once knew the Truth, but slipped away and fell, lost interest, but still have the underlying and somewhat suppressed feeling that you ought to return to Him in order to be freed from your burdens and unhappy lives, sensing that you are missing out, it is not too late:

“Thus says the LORD: ‘Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls…’” (Jeremiah 6:16).

Do this; return to God! And He WILL give you rest for your souls.

A hallmark of the writings of the Apostle Paul was his unyielding focus on the future—that is, life in the Family and Kingdom of God.

We have many details of Paul’s calling and then the message he taught under the inspiration of God. We are also told of his struggles, persecutions and health problems (2 Corinthians 11 and 12). In Romans 7:24, Paul writes, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”

Today, among brethren in the Church of God, we also see great personal trials.

Of course, that is true of the world at large, and that is because of sin, its penalty and the influence of Satan. But we have been called out of this world—still in it but not part of it (John 17:16). This is what Paul preached, and how he lived his life.

Paul wrote:

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it” (1 Corinthians 9:24)

“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

Paul said, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1), and in that, we find our ultimate example—as Paul also wrote:

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

The story of the 5 loaves and 2 fish that we read about in Matthew 14:13-21 is a very encouraging and uplifting miracle, showing the compassion that Jesus had for others.   It further shows His amazing capacity to produce a miraculous event, when necessary.   The number of people who ate and were filled was about 5,000 men, besides women and children, perhaps a total approaching 15,000 to 20,000 people. And after they had all eaten, there were still twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. 

It is an example of how our great God can provide in such abundance, even from insignificant beginnings.   The 5 loaves and 2 fish would normally only feed a very few people, but not in this case, as thousands were fully catered for.

Great things being achieved from very little can also be seen that out of all the people on earth today, around 8 billion, God has called us into His Church.   It is amazing to think that we, of all people, should be given knowledge that the world is oblivious to. 

A further example of small beginnings can be seen in Deuteronomy 7:6-7: “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples.”

These small beginnings can be accomplished by very ordinary people as we read in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29: “…for you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.”   

We can see from just these few sections of Scripture that God’s choices are not what the world would make.   In Luke 12:32, we see encouragement about God’s people down through the ages: “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

The Church was a little flock then and is still a little flock today, but what a job the current little flock has been given to do.   We are to get the message out about the coming Kingdom of God on earth and to act as watchmen in so doing.   On our website, we read about the Work that the Church of God has to do today:

“We believe that it is the Church’s commission to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God to all nations as a witness, to warn all nations, and especially the lost tribes of the house of Israel (mainly in the United States, Great Britain, certain Commonwealth nations and nations in Northwestern Europe) of impending danger, and to feed the flock.”

This takes a lot of time and effort but as the people of God, we call to mind Matthew 6:21: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” and it confers a responsibility on all members to back up and support this Work.

Another example of “small things” can be found in this example as commented upon by Wikipedia:

“The lesson of the widow’s mite or the widow’s offering is presented in two of the Synoptic Gospels (Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4) when Jesus is teaching in the Temple in Jerusalem. The Gospel of Mark specifies that two mites (Greek lepta) are together worth a quadrans, the smallest Roman coin. A lepton was the smallest and least valuable coin in circulation in Judea, worth about six minutes of an average daily wage.”

This example has been used many times in messages and articles down through the years, showing such a willing and giving attitude from someone who had very little.   But from that very little, as was highlighted in the miracle of the 5 loaves and 2 fish, God can accomplish much. It is clear that no offering is too small in God’s eyes.

We have just kept the annual spring Holy Days where God instructs us to give as he or she is able, and our offerings will help us to do the Work that we have been called to do.   We should always do this cheerfully as God instructs us in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, so that the good news of the soon coming Kingdom of God will continue to be preached by us as is required by God.

Let us have the same attitude that Jesus had when His parents were looking for Him as we read in Luke 2:49: “And He said to them, ‘Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?’”

Let us, likewise, be about our Father’s business!

Over the last few weeks, my youngest son has been playing soccer with a team. They practice twice a week and then usually have games on Sundays. As with any team, when you first put them together, it is challenging as everyone finds their place and starts to understand strengths and weaknesses. As a parent on the sideline, it can be quite frustrating at times to watch their games and not comment out loud on how they could be doing something different or better. Occasionally, I have yelled out to my son to push harder or change positions, even though this is discouraged. 

When I take a step back and think about our lives as Christians, I can draw parallels between me watching these games and how God the Father and Jesus Christ watch us living our lives here now on this earth. I wonder how many times they are cheering from the sidelines, or groaning inwardly at our awkward attempts and failures. The Bible very clearly tells us that God is always watching our lives (Hebrews 4:13; Proverbs 15:3). 

As we continue in this life, we are each growing and being tested and tried to show that we are worthy; that we can persevere and overcome those trials which we each face.

As we are approaching the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread, our minds and our thoughts should be turning more inwards and reflective, contemplating just how we are matching up to what we proclaim to be true. In 1 Corinthians 11:27-28, Paul reiterates for us that we should be examining ourselves – seeing where we fall short and where we are winning.  

When we do this examination properly, God is pleased with us because He sees our effort. He understands that we are continuing on and we are attempting to remain as true Christians. Psalm 103:13-14 reminds us that He knows who and what we are: “As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.”

When a parent yells for his child to do better on the sidelines, it’s a sad attempt at control. It produces nothing good or useful. In similar fashion, the Bible shows that God is not distant from us in this process. In fact, we are told that “the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth…” (2 Chronicles 16:9). He is watching, not just to observe, but to strengthen, to guide, and to help us grow.

The kids practice twice a week, working with their coach on things that they can do better. Oftentimes, the games reveal weaknesses that need tweaking and practice.

Similarly, we live from moment to moment, either including God in our ways or not. Paul encouraged the Christians at his time to keep trying, keep pushing, even IF it was challenging at times. He wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:24–25: “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.”

When we think about our lives in this manner, all of the sudden, the game changes. It’s not simply a loss or win scenario; rather, we are playing for our eternal lives. God wants us to win. He will do everything in His power to help us to do so. We must be willing participants in this regard, though. We have to want this victory more than anything and in turn do everything required to win. When Jacob wrestled with Christ, he would not let Him go until he received a blessing from Christ, showing his serious desire to win. 

Paul was constantly encouraging the churches he was writing to, to push harder, to do more, and to overcome more. We should develop or have the same attitude and mindfulness as we prepare to participate in the Passover ceremony. Let’s note what Paul says in Philippians 2:12–13: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” This is such a powerful Scripture for us—we strive, we attempt, we push, and God empowers us to do so. He gives us strength to overcome and to grow. 

God is never far away from us. God is always willing to listen and waiting for us to come to Him and to turn our lives in every way back to Him (Lamentations 3:40-41). 

So, as I continue to sit on the sidelines and watch my son play, I’m reminded that growth doesn’t happen all at once. It comes through practice, through mistakes, through correction, and through persistence.

And in much the same way, our Christian lives are about striving for perfection, day by day. As we approach the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, let’s take that examination seriously. Let’s look honestly at where we need to grow, where we need to push harder, and where we need to let God work more fully in us. We have to be careful here, though. It is easy to get caught up in the looking and the realization of our shortcomings; it is another to actually make the necessary changes to improve and grow. James 1:22-25 warns us to “…be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”

We are striving for an imperishable crown, eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Nothing can compare with that. When we think about this, when we meditate on it, when we let it fill us up and overtake our entire lives, then we will make real, tangible progress. 

As we move forward from this point to the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, let’s not just recognize where we need to change, but actually commit to and practice it. Let’s put in the effort, the practice and the repetition. Just like those kids on the field, improvement doesn’t come from simply knowing what to do; it comes from doing it, again and again.

Let’s each respond with this determination. Let’s push harder. Let’s strive more. Let’s refuse to give up. This isn’t just a game; we are fighting for our eternal life.