Recently, I preached a message from John chapter 14 focusing on verse six, where John quotes Jesus' familiar and provocative words, "I am the way, the truth and the life." As a part of the message, I emphasized that we cannot know the truth of Jesus and certainly cannot enter into the life of Jesus without understanding and walking in the way of Jesus. This observation seems especially relevant at a time when many people are claiming to speak for Jesus and attempting to justify divisive, self-serving and sometimes violent actions in his name.
Online pontification, peaceful protest and civil disobedience are increasingly regular occurrences as people all across the globe seek to champion their socio-political agendas, stand up for the disenfranchised, or address abuse and violence from war to human trafficking. There is undoubtedly a time and a place to speak our minds, take a stand for what we believe, or do so for those who cannot stand or speak for themselves. However, those who claim to follow Jesus have the opportunity and the obligation to speak and act according to his words and ways as we are led and empowered by his Spirit. When we are faithful to the words (the truth) and the way of Jesus, we enter into the eternal life of God here and now, and we become a channel of that life for others. Conversely, when we speak and act from a self-serving or self-righteous place, even for a noble, Christ-honoring cause, we often become agents of division, deception and sometimes a party to violence and death (think Crusades, The Inquisition, or the bombing of abortion clinics).
The alternative to misguided, possibly destructive social and political engagement in the name of Jesus isn't to play it safe by disengaging altogether but to reflect deeply on the way of Jesus – the way of the cross, the way of sacrificial love – before jumping in to be the champions of righteousness and justice in his name.
As I concluded my Sunday message, I highlighted the simple yet transformative practice of establishing the discipline of a daily quiet time as a means of being shaped by both the truth and the way of Jesus, thus experiencing and being a catalyst for the life of Jesus. In the church setting in which I grew up, quiet time was the term that was used to impress upon us the need for daily Bible reading and prayer to prepare us spiritually for the day ahead. In contemporary culture, we are more familiar with centering or meditating as a way to calm our minds, release anxiety and frustration, and ground ourselves spiritually and emotionally before taking on the challenges of the moment. However quaint having a quiet time may sound to us today, it can be transformative for our peace of mind and engagement with the people and issues each day presents. Making the Bible – especially the words and ways of Jesus recounted in the gospels – the focus of our attention grounds us in the realities of God's presence and activity in the world, rather than the more self-centered and ethereal approach offered by many centering and meditation techniques. Yet, even a Bible-centered quiet time can become sentimental and self-serving if we are not genuinely seeking Jesus's presence to enjoy him and submit to his will and way.
There are multiple accounts in the gospels of Jesus slipping away from the crowds and his disciples to spend time with his Father in prayer – sometimes for the entire night. Jesus' quiet time with the Father kept him centered in God's love and focused on God's purposes for his time on earth. It is from this consistent time of seeking both the presence and the will of the Father that Jesus confidently declared to those demanding that he perform a miracle at their bidding: Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can only do what he sees the Father doing, (John 5:19 NIV). Later in John, Jesus similarly asserts, For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken, (John 12:49 NIV).
How would things be different in our culture at this moment if all of us claiming to believe the truth of Jesus – championing the causes of morality and justice in his name or hiding safely behind a sentimental, feel-good spirituality – genuinely walked in the way of Jesus, speaking his words and doing his works, because we regularly spend time in his presence, honestly seeking his will and his way for our lives?
As mentioned earlier, this is our obligation as Christ-followers, but it is also an amazing opportunity. When we consistently align ourselves with the truth and way of Jesus, the very life of Jesus – of God himself – flows through us by his Spirit, enabling us to live faithful, fruitful, meaningful lives that bless us and those around us.
Like me, many of you have been seeking the will and way of Jesus daily for years. May we do so more and more in genuine humility and with a true desire to honor God and love our neighbors. For others, I hope you are encouraged to find your own time and place to step away from the crowds and the noise of the day and begin spending time with Jesus consistently. You won't be disappointed!
That said, there are situations in life where a regular time of quiet and solitude isn't possible. I'm thinking of young parents and those who might be caring for someone with a severe illness. The wonderful truth is that Jesus is with you anyway, and you can whisper a prayer to him or become aware of his presence while rocking your baby or wiping the brow of a loved one.
When life is overwhelming and your time is not your own, there is an ancient practice used by the faithful for hundreds of years called The Jesus Prayer. This prayer is the practice of reciting slowly and thoughtfully the prayer, Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me. The book “The Jesus Prayer” by Kallistos Ware is a brief but beneficial resource for learning how to use this simple prayer as a means of experiencing the presence and peace of God in turbulent times.
For those of you just starting out on a daily quiet time journey, I recommend the devotional app by 24/7 Prayer called Lectio 365. Along with thousands of others worldwide, I use this app daily as a part of my devotions. The beauty of Lectio is that you can read and listen to the day's readings and comments, and it can take you one hour or ten minutes, depending on the day's demands.
The Jesus way is the best way! It's the hope of the world. Let's keep seeking him so we can more faithfully, courageously and compassionately work together for the Glory of God and the Good of our Neighbors near and far.
—Pastor Scott