“Before we do anything for him, Jesus invites us to be with him.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – September 3, 2026
Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. Mark 3:13-15, (NIV)
One of the most persistent temptations we face day to day is to define ourselves by what we do. We receive a bonus at work that is directly tied to outcomes. The more we sell, the more we make. The greater the profits, the higher the rewards. And the converse is true: if we miss our targets, we’re penalized. Even children are aware of this dynamic. If you ace the class, you’re invited into the gifted program. If you can’t make the shot or keep up with the team, you ride the bench.
Since we encounter these dynamics in every area of life, it should come as no surprise that we are tempted to believe the same about our Lord and how he relates to us. Our prayer life, if we aren’t careful, can start to feel like a quarterly review with our boss. Here’s everything I did for you, here’s what I accomplished for the company, and here’s why you should be pleased with me.
Thanks be to God, Jesus does not relate to us like a boss or a coach.
Jesus does have a mission for his followers. He invites us into his work of redemption and transforms us through it. Yet before we do anything for him, Jesus invites us to be with him. Look at these incredible words from Mark 3:14. “He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach…” Before the twelve are sent out to preach, they are invited to be with Jesus. The same is true for you and for me.
Everything we do in the name of the Lord must first flow from an abiding life of communion with the Lord. With before work. This is a truth from which we never graduate, for it is the foundation of every Christian life. You are loved and known by the Lord, and it is from this place of belonging that you and I are sent out to do the work he has given us to do.
Prayer
Father, remind us that we are invited simply to be with you, known and loved, and only then are we invited to join you in your mission in the world, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
In what ways have you rushed into work for the Lord and have missed the invitation to first be with the Lord?
Related Reading
Matthew 11:28; Luke 10:41-42; John 15:4-5
Worship Resource
Cody Carnes: Nothing Else (Live at Passion Conference)
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