36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:36-40. NRSVUE
Distractions. They’re all around us. Biologist E.O. Wilson said, “We are drowning in information while starving for wisdom.” All the information we are bombarded with on a daily basis can be distracting and distressing.
The Pharisees and the Sadducees did their best to distract Jesus. They wanted to trap him so that they could discredit him. They concocted all sorts of questions with the intention of ending his ministry. Jesus would not fall into their trap. He was not distracted from his ministry. He kept the main thing the main thing. As followers of Jesus and the people called United Methodist, we are called to do exactly what Jesus said in Matthew – Love God with your whole self and love your neighbor as yourself.
It’s easy to get caught up in the distractions: What is happening in our country and in our world? What is happening in the denomination? While these are important questions, they can distract us from our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Distractions can also be a way to avoid doing the work that is before us.
I’m praying that we can work together to keep the distractions at bay while we focus on the main thing as the churches of the Mountain View District: disciple-making. How can I and your district leadership help your congregation be vital and healthy as we reach people for Jesus and help them grow in faith? I’m excited about partnering with you as we follow Jesus’ command to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves. In an age of distraction, let’s pray for wisdom and direction. We have an important ministry! Let’s not be distracted from it. Please let me know how we can work together.
Please pray for me. I am praying for you!
Grace and peace,
Sherri
