Begin with two of stillness and silence before God.

“And when it was day, He departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought Him and came to Him, and would have kept Him from leaving them.” —Luke 4:42

I love reading Scripture, especially the words of Jesus. There is power in God’s Word. It is alive, active, and capable of transforming us—if we allow it to. But beyond just His words, I’ve learned to pay attention to His ways. Jesus lived radically different from the religious leaders of His time.

One thing that stands out in the early chapters of Luke is what Jesus did before beginning His ministry. In Luke 4 before He resisted the devil’s temptations with Scripture, before He taught in the synagogues, before He cast out demons and healed the sick—Jesus did something significant. Immediately after being baptized by John, He withdrew into the wilderness for 40 days. Fully God and fully human, Jesus rested before stepping into His work.

From the very beginning, God designed us to rest before we work. In creation, God made the world, formed mankind, and then immediately set aside a day of rest. Later, He commanded His people to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. The Sabbath wasn’t for God—it was for us. But in today’s culture, we’ve flipped the order. Though our calendars start with Sunday, most people consider Monday the “real” beginning of the week. We rest from work when God intended for us to rest in order to work.

In John 15, Jesus reminds us that apart from Him, we can do nothing. Those who abide in Him will be pruned so they can bear even more fruit. God created us with purpose, but we can’t fully step into that purpose on our own. Time with God shapes us, removes distractions, and gives us direction.

Jesus—arguably the busiest person to ever walk the earth—regularly withdrew to spend time alone with the Father. As Like 4 ends, we see Him doing just that. After a full day of teaching and healing, Jesus retreated early in the morning. When the people found Him, He let them know He was preparing to go to the next city. He wasn’t just reacting to demands—He was moving with purpose, guided by time spent with God the Father.

So, how do you begin your day? Your workweek? Are you running on empty before finally taking a break? There’s a better way—a way that leads to abundant life. The way of Jesus.

For starters, just stop. What stood out to you in Luke 3 and 4? Use the SOAP method (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer) to journal what God is speaking to you today.

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.
• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises? 
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you? 
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.
  

The Way of Jesus: 7 Marks of Discipleship

As we begin a new series, we encourage you to lean into the 7 Marks of Discipleship each week. The 7 Marks of Discipleship provide a simple tool to help us identify areas where we are thriving in our calling and where we can grow. Check here each week for a new 7 Marks Challenge that will encourage you to follow Jesus closer every day.