Greetings from Singapore!

Our one-week vacation in Singapore involved a lot of walking. The number of steps that I can make in normal day would just be between 5,000 to 10,000 involving exercise. In Singapore it jumped to a low of 18,000 and a high of 25,000. This seemingly endless walking from one station to another, from one tourist attraction to another, got me thinking — how many steps did Jesus have on an average day?

Jesus may have walked a few kilometers or a lot, but what matters to Him was that He walked with a purpose. Matthew 4:18-20 recounts one of the walking trips of Jesus — “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.”

Jesus walked with a purpose in mind — to search for people to become His disciples. We can see a criteria in the searching process of Jesus. He was looking for hardworking people who would not give up. A fisherman for this matter fits the criteria. A fisherman would try his best not to go home empty handed because the survival of his family depends on his fishing.

Jesus was also looking for people who are obedient and can make sacrifices. As we can see, they left their nets, their source of income. Their family depended on them yet they obeyed Jesus. They made a great sacrifice. Their sacrifice was honored by God.

What about us? Do we intentionally search for would-be disciples who can continue the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ? It is time for us to do that. Are we hardworking for the ministry of Jesus or we cannot find a time to share the Gospel? We need to work out our salvation. Meaning, to exercise our faith by sharing it to others. Are we willing to sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel? Testimonies of pastors kids graduating from Central Philippine University continue to prove true that God is faithful to those who labor in His ministry. Let us make sacrifices because God will surely reward it.

Let us walk with a purpose!

Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
Acting Director
Office of Communications
Central Philippine University