We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. (NLT)

The foliage begins to change color, you wake up in the morning to a crisp chill in the air, and suddenly, one day, you notice termination dust in the mountains. As the days noticeably grow shorter, do you work hastily to prepare for winter, working quickly before the night arrives?

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At the end of this summer, my wife and I began building a fence in our backyard – planning out our build, picking up materials, and meticulously plotting where each post would go. We worked quickly whenever we could find spare time to do so. We struggled to dig basketball-sized rocks out of the ground for post holes, working hastily while trying to do a good job. At this point, you might be thinking the obvious: We should have begun the work earlier. It’s not like we didn’t know that winter was coming.  

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When have you neglected urgency and instead found yourself in a hurry? Do you live life in a bustle – stressed, restless, and constantly wishing you had just one more hour in the day to get more done at work, run more errands, or do more around the house? Have you ever stopped to think about the important difference between urgency and hurry? Although urgency and haste have similarities, there are some important distinctions. Jesus perfectly modeled the difference that exists.  

In today’s Scripture, we are reminded of the limited time that we have ahead of us – before winter in Alaska, before the night arrives, and before we are called Home. And unlike the predictability of winter in Alaska, neither you nor I know how long our time on Earth will be.  

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But the Lord knows precisely the moment when we will be reunited with him. So, what if we followed his rhythm for our lives? Living and working with urgency but not hurried. Seeing the importance of the work that God has put in front of us yet abiding by his timeline. And remembering why we work. Ephesians 2:8-10 gives us this sweet reminder: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (ESV).  

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I don’t know about you, but for me, this whole idea of doing the work God set before me sounds great, but I often wonder, how can I apply this principle as he intended? Maybe the more helpful question to ask is “How did Jesus model this?” The answer is clear throughout the New Testament. Time and again we see Jesus walk out a perfect balance of having a sense of urgency to do the work before him with the limited time he had, yet constantly also pausing to pray, fellowship, and rest. He did everything with intentionality and purpose while being present in every moment.  

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What might urgency in the work God calls you to look like? Maybe it's slowing down, being in tune with the rhythm that he has planned for you. Or maybe it's fighting apathy and letting your gratitude for Jesus draw you into something he is asking you to do today. If you have breath in your lungs, God has a purpose for you here on this Earth.

Jesus, thank you for showing me how to focus on fulfilling the purpose that I was placed on this Earth for. Thank you for sustaining me yet also calling me to rest in you. Holy Spirit, please guide the rhythm of work that I was created for. Don’t allow me to neglect the work that you have for me today, nor let me forget why I am doing it in the first place. I exist for your glory. Help me to seek your will in everything I do. Amen.