Jesus lived with a level of mission and urgency that should challenge every single one of us. After nearly being stoned to death, He stopped for one blind man. He knew "night" was coming.
John 9:4-5: We must carry out the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”
Jesus didn't waltz through life. Yes, He had this incredible peace and was "interruptible"—stopping for children, for blind men, for anyone who needed Him. But don't mistake His serenity for casualness. He lived with absolute urgency because He understood something we constantly forget: time is short.
Look at His language. "I must work." Not "I want to" or "I should." Must. Had to. There's no wiggle room here. In Luke 2, even as a twelve-year-old boy, He tells His parents, "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" Everything in His life pointed toward one thing—accomplishing the Father's will while He had breath.
Here's what hits me: Jesus says "we must work," not just "I must work." He's pulling His disciples—and us—into this mission. God has given you one lease on life. One. And a second lease is given to no man. You've been specifically designed, specifically placed at this time in this place, with specific works that God has foreordained for you to walk in.
It's easy to lose focus. We can get lost in the things of this world. But Jesus beckons us to focus our attention on what really matters. Why? Because night is coming. For every single person you know who doesn't know Jesus, night is coming.
You are the only light to your specific area of darkness. Think about that. Your coworkers, your neighbors, your family members—you might be the only Bible they ever read, the only Jesus they ever see. While you are in the world, you are the light of the world.
This isn't about quitting your job and becoming a missionary in Africa (unless God calls you to that). It's about living your normal life with gospel urgency. It's about redeeming the time, not letting opportunities slip through your fingers. It's about recognizing that every conversation, every relationship, every day is a gift to make much of Jesus.
1. If you really believed you had limited time to make an eternal impact, what would you do differently starting today?
2. Who in your life needs to hear about Jesus, and what's preventing you from talking to them about Him?
3. How can you cultivate a sense of gospel urgency without falling into frantic anxiety or burnout?
Stay dialed in.