Swinging the Door Wide Open

Look at the example of Jesus as he entered the same room as his Father before he spent time with people and in ministry. In Mark 1:35 (NLT) we read, “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.” Notice that this was after a full day of teaching, healing, and driving out demons. Before he embarks on another full day of travel and ministry, he spends time with his father.

Jesus had a plan for this time. He got up early while no one else was around so that he could be alone and spend time with his father.

He found a place where he could fellowship. He was in a small house in a small town with his disciples as well as Peter’s family and multitudes of followers. So, he went out to a solitary place where he would not be interrupted.

In this way, he protected his fellowship time. In all of this, we see Jesus’s intentionality to initiate intimacy with his Father. Out of that intimacy flowed power and a commitment to obey. In the same way, our life and service must flow out of our relationship with Jesus. Ministry depends upon our being with him.

Jesus said, “For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, NLT). Without living and serving in the presence of Jesus we cannot produce fruit that will last. We enter into his presence because we are weak and powerless and our hearts hunger for intimacy with him. But as we draw closer to him, we are touched with what touches his heart.

Reflection

Prayerfully evaluate your service and your inner spiritual life. Is there a balance between doing and being? Which of the doors you have looked at this week is the first one you need to focus on? What is one step you will take this week to put that into practice?

This content was adapted from In the Same Room as Jesus: Entering a Deeper Friendship with Christ by Philip E. Morrison. To discover more ways to deepen your intimacy with Jesus, read the whole book.