From the Pulpit: Slow down. Be with Jesus.

March 1, 2024 marked two years of having the incredible and humbling opportunity to pastor at Celebrate. I could go on and on about the things I have learned and the ways I have grown over the last two years.

Not only have I grown in my knowledge of and depth of love for Jesus, but my family has grown as well. In December, my wife and I welcomed our third child, Paisley Jo King. We are officially outnumbered, and going from man-to-man defense to zone defense has been a mix of challenging and amazing. I read a quote recently from author and pastor John Mark Comer that has really resonated with me, “...remember that children can be like monastic bells to remind you that your time is not your own.”

Anyone with children can relate to that, time is not your own…Children teach you so many things, how to love, how to give, how to teach, how to be patient, the list goes on and on. I am reminded however, that even in the midst of this busy season of life, I must slow down to be with Jesus. Dallas Willard once said, “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.” In other words…slow down. Whether you have small kids, adult kids, or no kids, remember to slow down and be with Jesus. Read Luke 10:38-42 and don’t miss the words of Jesus, “Martha, Martha…you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

I remember the first time I read this and really understood what Jesus was saying, it hit me like a ton of bricks. The most important thing we have to do in this life is spend time with Jesus. Going into this Easter season, I challenge you to reflect on the amount of time you spend with Jesus. Do you spend more time absorbing the Word of God or Netflix? Do you spend more time in prayer or on Facebook? John Piper once said, “One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove at the Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time”.

There is nothing more important that we have to do than spend time with the very God that creates us. Joshua 1:8 reveals the key to prosperity and success that will stand the test of time. “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Slow down. Be with Jesus. Nothing is more important than this.