“… knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”
— 1 Peter 1:18-19

When I think of what Jesus did to secure my salvation, what He gave to redeem me from the slave market of sin, I blush at my miserly attitude toward Him.

He who gave God’s best for me, sadly, often must settle for the meager leftovers of my life.

So, what’s at the bottom of this squalid tale? Too much distraction, that’s what.

What are doing that will matter 100 years from now?

My old Bible teacher often said, “Beware of the barrenness of a busy life.”

I can identify. For most of my life, I’ve been afflicted by “doers” disease, always “doing,” almost never just “being.” It’s the fastest road to spiritual drought.

Ask almost anyone in today’s western culture, “How’s it going?” and you’ll hear back, “Busy!”

It’s like a badge of honor to be ceaselessly “running around.”

It can become part of our identity, being fueled by the accolades of others who think we’re really important.

But is incessant busyness what qualifies as important in Heaven?

For that, we turn to the perfect Bible story to illustrate, from Luke 10:38-42:

“Now as they were traveling along, He (Jesus) entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. And she had a sister called Mary, who was also seated at the Lord’s feet, and was listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do the serving by myself? Then tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; but only one thing is necessary; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.’”

Case closed. So, what are you so busy doing today that will matter 100 years from now? Why not go for the “good part,” intimacy with Jesus and His Word instead?

Rhythms of Divine Grace

The late Christian philosopher Dallas Willard wrote, “Grace is not opposed to effort. It is opposed to earning. Effort is action. Earning is attitude. You have never seen people more active than those who have been set on fire by the grace of God.” 

And to connect with the grace of God, we must first get in step with Him.

That brings us to Matthew 11:28-29 and His yoke:

“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

When you are yoked to Him, you are “sync’d up” with the divine pace and rhythm of His Kingdom.

Do you think Jesus is ever in a hurry? Can you find Him “running around” in the Gospels? Yet, He had a lot more on His mind than you or I ever will.

Enslaved by the Clock

Jesus is inviting us into intimate communion with Him — by entering the unforced spiritual rhythms of life in His kingdom. But we must bring our whole selves under Jesus’ sway in all dimensions of our lives. Nothing held back.

A friend of mine once said, “I once caught myself saying, ‘Jesus, you stay here in my truck (where he had his morning devotions) I’ve got to go to work now.’”

Bad plan. Jesus wants to be as present in your workplace as He is in your church. As written in Colossians 3:17: “Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

Remember, you may be the only “Jesus” your workmates will ever see. Only the “whole you” will do.

So, How About You?

In Hebrews 9:27-28, the Bible tells us that we only go around once in this life, “And just as it is destined for people to die once, and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”

So, doesn’t it make sense to make the best of your few years here? Do you “eagerly await” His return to set up His kingdom on earth and initiate an era of peace such as the world has never seen?

Meantime, you can have heart-deep inner peace in a tumultuous world IF you put God first.