Jesus Is the Center

We do not make Christ central; we awaken
to the reality that our lives are already held together in him.

Our lives are not random, nor are our days empty of meaning. We confess that Jesus is the center of the center. So, we joyfully proclaim that all things find their origin, purpose, and destiny in him. From the first breath of creation to the final word of redemption, Christ stands at the center. He calls us into lives shaped by his purpose and motivated by his love.

Jesus does not simply offer ideas to believe, but a way to live. He says, “Follow me,” and invites us into a life where every moment matters. God gathers all our work, rest, joy, sorrow, faithfulness, and struggle into his redemptive story.

He meets us in the ordinary rhythms of daily life and leads us toward the fullness God intends. In Christ, our lives are no longer fragmented or aimless. Our work becomes an offering of service. Our relationships become places of grace. Our suffering is not wasted but held within the promise of resurrection.

Christ creates purpose not by removing us from the world, but by sending us into it as witnesses to his kingdom. We call this way of life Kingdom Living.

We follow Jesus in prayerful obedience, compassionate action, and quiet faithfulness. It is not as a way of placing Christ at the center, but as a response to the truth that he already is. We do not make Christ central to our lives; we awaken to the reality that our lives are already held together in him.

To follow Jesus is to attend to the Father’s voice. It’s to receive the Spirit’s leading. And it’s to allow Jesus to form us by his way of life, even when the path feels unclear or frightening.

As we step into this new year, I invite you to receive again the call of Jesus in your daily lives. Open your hearts to what God has already done and is still doing among us. Christ will shape your priorities, your hopes, your dreams, and your decisions. Our lives are caught up in something far greater than ourselves: the living purpose of God, revealed in Jesus Christ, for the life of the world.

Mike Rasmussen, Superintendent of North America and the Caribbean
Surrey Hills, Oklahoma, US