Involvement in organizations such as the Greenbrier Pregnancy Center or WV for Life can be reduced to merely humanitarian services whose goals are to help alleviate human suffering. While there are numerous biblical examples and exhortations for Christians to intervene in the sufferings of those around them and around the world, we must never lose sight of the primary reason for such interventions...namely, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to keep all that I commanded you” (Matthew 28:18-20). We must be careful not to allow our humanitarian desires overshadow God's primary intent...namely, God is “not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) How easy it is to get sidetracked from the main thing to peripheral pursuits. Many Christian ministries start out focused on the mandate Jesus gave us (Matthew 28:18-20) but over time, the organization becomes increasingly more focused on its humanitarian mission and organizational necessities than the focus God wants us to have...namely, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, and the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'” (John 7:38-39).

Numerous examples of organizations that started out with Matthew 28:18-20 as their driving force but lost their initial reason for existence and became subservient to sustaining the organization...(e.g all of the Ivy League universities, Harvard, Yale, Princeton ff.) This happens with local churches as well. While organizational efforts are necessary to carry out the Great Commission, we must never lose sight of God's primary purpose for the organization. This commentary of John 21:17 is what our ministry organizations must keep before them: “Identify yourself with My interests in other people,” not, “Identify Me with your interests in other people.” My prayer for you and me this day is this: Lord, keep us focused on Your primary objective as we seek to reach out to folks...namely, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31) Never let us lose the reason for why our ministry organization exists. Amen

Walk with the King today and be a blessing.