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!
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. (Colossians 3:23)
Ever since COVID, experiencing good service can be is increasingly rare; experiencing good service with a smile often seems to be as far as the east is from the west. Let me take this one step further: In the world we live in today, when we actually do receive good service with a smile, we tend to be surprised, perhaps even skeptical.
We can’t control how others are serving us, but we certainly can control how we are serving others, and our verse for today provides the key that unlocks the door leading to service with a smile. If we are truly serving to please God and not people, we will always serve with a smile, regardless of the service we are providing.
Jesus said the greatest place in His Kingdom is not occupied by the one with the most servants, but by the one who serves the most. He Himself, the King of kings, did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). When we are serving others and taking genuine pleasure in doing it, we are maximizing the glory we are bringing to our God. The person or people we are serving are blessed, we are blessed, and God is glorified.
Service with a smile is just another way of saying joyful service. And here is the best way I have ever heard the word joy explained:
J – JESUS
O – OTHERS
Y – YOU
Joyful service is the foundation upon which to build our Christian life. Jesus is first. Others are second. And we are third. Funny thing though: Using this formula in our service actually puts us in the lead, because we simply cannot bless others without blessing ourselves.
One final point about service with a smile: You might be called by Jesus to serve in a capacity that is not something you like doing most or are the most gifted at doing. Do it anyway, because the greatest joy we can experience in this life is not found in simply doing what we love to do most, but in being most like Jesus.
Is your service marked by a smile today? It will be, no matter what kind of service you are providing, when you are doing it for the Lord.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3)
Do you ever feel like you need to put on a brave face and smile through the storms and sorrows of life? Do you attempt to create the best possible “highlight reel” on social media so others will perceive you in a certain way? I have a word of encouragement for you on those days when you may find yourself trying to live up to someone else’s expectation of you: You are fully known by Jesus and you are completely and unconditionally loved . . . so you can unmask what is unreal.
O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in – behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. (Psalm 139:1-6)
These God-breathed words set us free to live an unmasked life, even before the face of our critics. When you know just how much you are known by God — that nothing that you think or do or say is hidden from Him in any way — and yet you are still completely loved, does it really matter what others think about you? Think about it this way: God knows everything about you — all the good, all the bad, and all the ugly — and He still wants to be in relationship with you for all eternity!
Christian, the next time you feel the need to hide behind a mask because of what others might think about you, look to the cross. Jesus loves you so much He died to be with you! And He did this while knowing your every thought, word, deed, and desire. Let that truth set you free to discard every mask and live before the face of God, who knows everything about you and loves you with an everlasting love.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
By nature, we all seek independence. We crave it! We can’t wait to crawl, walk, and run. We want to be in control of our lives, and independence is the key that unlocks that door. However, God has made it impossible for us to live independently of Him, “for in him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). We were made by God, formed for the glory of God, and we are totally dependent upon Him for everything. Our next heartbeat is totally in His hands. He is “the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways” (Daniel 5:23 NKJV).
The word “remains” in John 15:5 means that we believe Jesus is the Son of God, have received Him as our Lord and Savior, live in accordance to His will, and live totally dependent upon Him for everything. While the NIV renders the Greek meno as “remains,” several other English translations offer “abides” — that is, to remain united with Jesus. We are to lean on Jesus, learn from Jesus, and live for Jesus, not in our strength but in His. We are to rely on Him and rest in Him. If we do that, our lives will be fruitful and fulfilling. As John 15:5 asserts, apart from Jesus we can do nothing.
When we try to live independent lives, we forfeit the joy, happiness, and peace that our Lord has promised to us. Why? Because when God created mankind, He did it in such a way that it would be impossible for us to find true joy, true happiness, and true peace in anything smaller than Jesus. And we all know what it feels like when we try to do that, because we all have tried and experienced varying degrees of failure, ranging from “dismal” to “catastrophic.”
What best describes the way you are living your life today? Are you living in independence or dependence? Are you living as if everything depends on you or on God?
Dependence on God is a good thing. He has promised to be with us every step of the way through this life and the next and to meet our every need along the way. Let that truth set you free to be all God is calling you to be by remaining in Jesus and depending on Him for everything you want out of life, both great and small. Dependence truly is better than independence. You have His Word on that!
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. (Deuteronomy 13:3-4)
How do you see your life today? If you see it as a race, you will highly value speed and likely be in a hurry everywhere you go. If you see it as a party, you will highly value pleasure and only be satisfied when you are having fun. Make no mistake, the vision that rules your heart shapes your life, and that is why it is critical to see life from God’s perspective. And why would we not? He is the One who created life and is sustaining all of it.
We see from the very beginning of human history with Adam and Eve in the Garden that God has ordained life to be a test. God tested our first parents with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
The Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17)
We all know that Adam and Eve failed their test. But God did not leave them in their failure; He promised to send a Redeemer (Genesis 3:15), because a failed test would not be the end of their story. And it is never the end of our story either! Throughout Scripture we read words like “trials,” “refining,” and “testing” over and over again, giving us great insight as to how we are to view the life we are living before the face of God.
God gives us tests to build our character and strengthen our faith. Some tests come in the form of sickness and disease. Other tests come in the form of difficulties at the office or in our relationships. Still other tests come in the form of persecution for our faith in Jesus. But regardless of when, where, and how God tests us, each test is designed to deepen our dependence on Jesus and to teach us to walk by faith and not by sight.
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)
How has God been testing you lately? How have you been doing with that test? Remember, falling isn’t failure unless you fail to get up. And please remember this: You have passed the most important test in life – your final exam, if you will – if you are trusting in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation. His sinless life, atoning death, and supernatural resurrection are the door to eternal life for all those who believe that when He cried out from the cross, “It is accomplished,” He meant what He said. He paid the price for your salvation in full. Let these words be an encouragement as you face every test God sends your way.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
“Whatever you ask the Father in my name . . .” (John 16:23)
Today is the sixth and final installment in our series of articles on praying “in Jesus’ name.” We have been examining six reasons why praying in Jesus’ name is the key component in the prayers we pray. We saw that praying in Jesus’ name gives us access to God the Father and powerin our prayers. We also saw that the invitation to pray in Jesus’ name is a clear indication of how deep our Father’s love is for us, we rejoiced in the assurance we have that praying in Jesus’ name brings glory to the Father, and we drew strength from the security that comes with praying in Jesus’ name. The final reason for praying in Jesus’ name is the joy we will experience.
Key #6 – Joy
To be sure, there are dozens more reasons for praying “in Jesus name” beyond what I have touched on in these articles, but today’s is one of the best.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you . . . Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:23-24).
When was the last time you prayed in Jesus’ name and thought about your joy being full? Yet this is the promise we have from Jesus! True, lasting joy in this life is only found in Jesus.
Now, I am well aware that you and I go looking for joy in a great many things other than Jesus. We seek it in our jobs. We seek it in our relationships. We seek it in our finances. We seek it in our pleasures. We seek it in the next shiny object we buy. Yet our life experiences make it clear that genuine, enduring joy simply cannot be found in anything smaller than Jesus. Praying in Jesus’ name is a reminder of this full joy that has been promised to us by the One in whose name we pray.
One final thought: There was a time in my life and ministry when I would pray, and when I reached the end of the prayer, I would quickly say, “in Jesus’ name,” practically tacking on those words as an afterthought. I am a whole lot older and a little bit wiser today, and I know those three words are the most important part of my prayers. Instead of rushing through them, I relish the thought of the great honor and privilege I have been given to pray in Jesus’ name and the blessings multiplied I receive from having done so.
May this be the confession of your life as you pray in Jesus’ name; as you utter these three key words, slow down, soak them up, and savor them for the truth, power, love, assurance, security, and joy they bring into your life.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
“Whatever you ask the Father in my name . . .” (John 16:23)
We are moving toward the conclusion of a six-part message on the three key words in prayer: “in Jesus’ name” and the six reasons why praying in Jesus’ name is the key component in the prayers we pray. So far we have seen that praying in Jesus’ name gives us access to God the Father and powerin our prayers. We have also seen that the invitation to pray in Jesus’ name is a clear indication of how deep our Father’s love is for us, and on Monday we rejoiced in the assurance we have that praying in Jesus name brings glory to the Father, which pleases Him a great deal! Today we will look at the security that comes with praying in Jesus’ name.
Key #5 – Security
Praying in Jesus’ name is a constant reminder of the eternal security we have in our Savior, Jesus Christ, who said “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away” (John 16:1 ESV). The simplest way I know of communicating this biblical truth is this: Once His, always His! Every time we pray in Jesus’ name we are reminded that we are eternally secure in our right relationship with God. Satan cannot separate us from our Savior; even our sin cannot shipwreck our salvation. We have an eternal salvation security that is unaffected by anything in this world — not because of our faithfulness to God, but because of His faithfulness to us . . . in Jesus’ name.
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27-30)
Jesus reminded His disciples to continue praying in His name because it would be a constant reminder of their eternal security when they would need it most. They were about to face incredible persecution for their faith in Jesus; many of them would die a martyr’s death. In order to hold fast to their faith in the face of terrible trials, they needed to be reminded that nothing in this life — not death nor their own wavering faith nor even their outright sin — could ever separate them from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Let each prayer you pray “in Jesus’ name” be a constant reminder of the security you have — not because you have Jesus, but because Jesus holds you in His hand.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)
Dear Kim,
I am praising God and thanking you for 31 years of marriage, knowing that it must seem like a lot more than 31 years with all you have had to put up with from me. Even though I have not always shown it, you are my best friend and true love. When God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him” (Genesis 2:18), He blessed me with the greatest helper I could have ever found in this world.
We have traveled these 31 years together through seasons of both sunshine and rain, and through it all, you have stayed by my side. God has blessed us with four amazing children who all love Jesus and live for Him in their own special way. You are the greatest mother in the world, and your faithfulness to God has set the shining example for our children to follow. In closing, let me echo the words of the apostle John, who said, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 1:4):
As great as my joy is to see our children walking with Jesus, my greatest joy in all the world is to be with you each day.
“Whatever you ask the Father in my name . . .” (John 16:23)
We are halfway through a six-part message on the three key words we utter in prayer: “in Jesus’ name.” I have been expanding on six reasons why praying in Jesus’ name is the key component in the prayers we pray. We have seen that praying in Jesus’ name gives us access to God the Father and powerin our prayers. We also saw that the invitation to pray in Jesus’ name is a clear indication of how deep our Father’s love is for us. Today we’ll look at the fourth reason: Assurance.
Key #4 – Assurance
We have been speaking about our prayers in Jesus’ name, but today I want to share with you how our assurance in prayer is for the name of Jesus.
“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:13-14).
And there you have it! The glory of God is at stake when we pray in Jesus’ name. Whether we are crying out with the most heart-wrenching, soul-aching prayers or simply engaging in something as seemingly insignificant as asking a blessing over our food, the glory of God is at stake . . . and God will not allow anything to violate or encroach on His glory. Think about that for a minute; could there be any greater assurance in approaching the throne of grace? I don’ think so!
So as you are praying in the name of Jesus, remember that you are also praying for the name of Jesus. As you pray in Jesus’ name, you are coming into the presence of the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit, joining Jesus in doing what He ever lives to do: bringing glory to His Father in heaven. Let that truth sink deep into your soul and keep you coming continually into the presence of the Father, praying in Jesus’ name, knowing the assurance you have because every prayer uttered in Jesus’ name is also for Jesus’ name.
You may recall the event described in John’s gospel when Jesus cried out, “Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. (John 12:28-29)
His name is glorified when we pray in the name of His beloved Son. Let us glorify His name . . . praying in Jesus’ name . . . again and again and again!
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
“Whatever you ask the Father in my name . . .” (John 16:23)
We are moving through a six-part message on the three key words in prayer: “in Jesus’ name.” We are going to explore six reasons why praying in Jesus’ name is the key component in the prayers we pray. So far we have seen that praying in Jesus’ name gives us access to God the Father and powerin our prayers.Today we will look at love.
Key #3 – Love
Every prayer we pay in Jesus name is a wonderful reminder of just how much we are loved by our Father in heaven. Because “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand” (John 3:35), we can be assured of the Father’s love for us as well. Jesus reiterates this truth in these words, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love” (John 15:9). Now, if that doesn’t light the fire of your faith and faithfulness to Jesus, your wood is wet!
Remember, we are not loved by God because of anything that is in us. We are, in fact, very unlovable most of the time! Can I get a witness? We are loved because we are in Christ, by grace through faith, which is a timeless truth that meets the deepest desire of every human heart: to be LOVED. The next time you pray in Jesus’ name, let it remind you of the love that has been lavished on you from on high. You have access to the Father. You have power with the Father. You are loved by the Father. And all of this is because of your relationship with His dearly beloved Son, who said, “The Father will give you whatever you ask in my name” (John 15:16).
It may be hard to believe, especially in those moments when we are our most unlovable, but we are loved by the Father simply because of the love He has for the Son. This love is as unconditional as it is eternal.
One last thought: When God called Jesus “my Son, whom I love,” He was speaking that truth over you as well! Do you receive it today? If you do, let it be reflected by your prayers offered in Jesus’ name.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 