Our pastor talked about feeling the weight of ministering in our time. Political issues, social unrest, justice concerns, COVID-19, congregational needs—all these and more had become heavy to the point of being overwhelming. She spoke as a pastor, but it isn't only pastors and church leaders who know the struggle with matters that are too big for us, is it?

In a sermon, she told us about the powerful impact of a three-word sentence that a church leader used at the end of his emails. Before he "signed" his name, he would write, "Jesus is Lord!"

Our pastor experienced power and encouragement from this simple little sentence. Why?

Because Jesus the Lord is the one who loves us—so much that he willingly became a servant, surrendering the glory of equality with God. And more—"he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross" for our sake!

And even more—Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to rule in heaven. He is the risen, exalted, reigning Christ—the Lord to whom all authority and power in heaven and on earth have been given.

He is our risen, living, ascended, reigning Lord. And "if you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9).