1. Going to Him Asking for Nothing
Do I come to Jesus even on days when I need nothing?
Jesus says, “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad” (John 8:56). Abraham looked by faith to the One who had not yet come, and he was glad. It was not a gift that made him glad; seeing Him was the joy itself.
Most of our prayers begin with asking. And on days when we need nothing, we quietly forget Him. Like the little child at our nursery who hugged me without a treat, may there be days when we draw near to Him without receiving anything. This does not mean that asking is wrong, or that it should be replaced.
This week, in one moment when you need nothing (on the way to work, or for a minute before sleep), simply say, without asking for anything: “Jesus, I just wanted to be with you.”
“Today, like a child who hugs without a treat, I come to Jesus asking for nothing.”
2. Turning to Him First When It Is Hard
When things go wrong and my heart is heavy, whom do I turn to first?
In verse 41, Jesus stands surrounded by those who oppose Him. Yet it is He who takes the initiative with the question. In Psalm 110:1 God says to Him, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.” Even in the midst of enemies, it is God who gives the victory. And the name of this Son means He “will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). He is our Saviour.
When life is hard, whom do we turn to first? It may be a person, a search engine, or our phone. Seeking help from friends or professionals is not wrong. Let us simply turn to Him first.
This week, when a heavy moment comes, before you speak to anyone, tell Jesus first: “Jesus, you are my Saviour. Please help me.” Even if the problem is not solved at once, you will have Someone to go to first.
“Today, in hard moments, I turn first to Jesus, my Saviour.”
3. Turning to Him First in Joy
When things go well and good things happen, whom do I thank first?
David was the greatest king Israel ever had. Yet he called his own descendant “my Lord” (Psalm 110:1; Matthew 22:44). In that culture, an ancestor never called a descendant “lord”. The man at the very top of the nation acknowledged Someone higher than himself.
When things go well, we easily think we have achieved it ourselves. And the One we forget first is the Lord of everything. A joyful moment is not a time when we may do without Him; it is when we can see most clearly who He is.
This week, when something good happens, before you boast about it or post it online, tell Jesus first: “Jesus, you are my Lord. Thank you.”
“Today, in joyful moments too, I turn first to Jesus, my Lord.”
These three are not a scorecard that proves your salvation. They are the way someone who has been loved first draws near to Him, like the child who hugged without a treat.
Prayer
Father, who came looking for us first,
Thank you for telling us today who Jesus is. We have learned that He is the One David called “my Lord”, the Son of David who is also David’s Lord, the Son of God who sits at your right hand. Thank you that He is Immanuel, God with us.
Lord, we have often known Jesus only in part: as the One who gives us treats, who meets our needs, who comforts us. And we have come to Him only when we needed Him. Thank you that you did not turn us away when we came like that. Now help us to know Him more deeply.
Jesus is our Saviour. He took our sins upon Himself on the cross, and set us before you where we could not stand. He is also our Lord. Let us never forget that before we ever looked for Him, He came looking for us.
This week, help us to come to Him asking for nothing, even in moments when we need nothing. In hard moments, let us turn first to Jesus, our Saviour. In joyful moments, let us thank Jesus, our Lord, first.
Holy Spirit, as you moved David to call Him “my Lord”, open our hearts, that we too may say by your Spirit, “Jesus is my Lord.” Like a child who hugs without a treat, make us people who want to be with Him in every season.
In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.