However, in terms of the spiritual needs of people, I think the patterns we find in the New Testament are helpful. I have often pondered Jesus’ words in John 17:4 where in His high priestly prayer, Jesus says to His Father, “I have accomplished the work you have given me to do.” How could He say this? He had only had a public ministry of three years! How many people had never heard His message; how many lepers had not been cleansed; how many lame continued to struggle with earning a living, etc. The key was that He knew that His life was a call from God and His mission was not meeting every one’s needs, but to do the will of His Father. He states this several times in John. This conviction is what kept Him on target, guided Him in the use of His time, and enabled Him to evaluate His life’s ministry. He told His disciples that as the Father had sent Him, so He sent them. So, some lessons I draw from this pattern: • We are not called to do everything; we are called to follow Jesus and do what He tells us to – no more and no less. • He invites us to minister in His grace and power. He even says that His “yoke is easy and His burden is light” (Mt 11:28). • This implies spending time with Him to discover just what He wants us to do and accomplish, both over the long haul and each day. • He tells us that we are to have one day in seven to rest. We are not working machines. We are human beings. He knows that we need rest and refreshment. If we don’t follow this pattern, we are taking on more duties and responsibilities than are His will. • Ultimately, the work is His. We can’t save anyone; only He can. • But He is full of compassion. He loves people. He is not willing that any should perish. • There will always be a paradox; a need to keep close to Him, to find the balance between caring and indifference.

I trust these thoughts will be helpful to you, Abe. They have been to me.