There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
In the movie Top Gun, there is a memorable line that speaks directly into the consciousness of our culture today and how we believe we need to live our lives: “I feel the need . . . the need for speed!” Yet when we look at the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, we see that there is indeed much more to life than merely increasing its speed. It will serve us well to examine our assumptions about the need for speed in the service of our Lord.
When we read through the gospel accounts of the life of Jesus, we see that His days were full but never frantic. From before the sun rose until long after it had set, Jesus never seemed to be in a hurry. He set the perfect pace in His rhythms of responding to the needs of the people, retreating from their presence to refresh, and then reentering society to continue the work the Father had given Him to do. The best way I know how to describe the life Jesus lived is to say that He lived a life marked by unhurried holy habits. And at the top of the list was the time He carved out of each day to spend intentional and intimate time alone with His Father.
Jesus set the perfect example. The question you and I must answer is, Are we following His example?
Jesus set the example for putting God first in our lives. Time and time again, in His perfect wisdom, discernment, and understanding, He could be found alone with His Father. From the early morning hours before it was dark (Mark 1:35), to all night sessions of prayer (Luke 6:12), Jesus always kept the main thing the main thing: time in communion with His Father (Luke 5:16). If we are ever going to live the life God has called us to live in a way that is glorifying to God and good for all those we serve, we too must carve out time each day for God.
Let these words of Jesus be an encouragement to you today, right where this finds you: “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31). Setting intentional time to be alone with the Lord each day will shape and sharpen the rest of our lives. The holy habits of responding to the needs of those we have been called to serve, retreating in order to be refreshed and recharged by God, and then reentering into our calling will have us living according to the wisdom of the Word rather than the wisdom of the world, which prioritizes speed and productivity over spirituality and service.
Let the life of Jesus be your pattern for pace, your model for ministry, and your design for doing all God has called you to do.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 