Pray, union, listen, serve, and echo. These practices reflect what God commands his people to do in the Old Testament, what Jesus does in his ministry, and what New Testament authors instruct believers to continue doing in the power of the Holy Spirit. These habits show up as central to the life of a believer and a life on mission. These are habits for all Christians in all times, but they are also those that we see as particularly relevant for our ministry context today.
Pray
The habit of prayer in the Old Testament
In the Old Testament, God both commands his people to pray and promises to answer the prayers of his people.
2 Chronicles 7:14 – “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Zechariah 13:9 – “They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”
The Psalms are full of examples of depending on God in prayer, including prayer for God’s salvation to go forth into the world.
Psalm 67:1-2 – “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.”
In the life of Jesus
Jesus spent significant time in prayer from the beginning of his ministry to the end.
Mark 1:35 — “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.”
Luke 23:46 — “Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’ And having said this he breathed his last.”
Jesus taught his disciples how to pray.
Matthew 6:9-10 – “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Jesus specifically commanded his followers to pray for those who would go and share with people who didn’t know him yet.
Matthew 9:37-38 – “Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'”
In the New Testament
The New Testament letters go on to instruct believers to pray all the time, in all things.
Philippians 4:6 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Romans 12:12 – “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
Union
The habit of union with God in the Old Testament
We see a life of union with God described in the Old Testament through the lens of trusting in God and taking refuge in him.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 – “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
And we see it not only practiced, but commanded, in the Psalms.
Psalm 16:8 – “I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.”
Psalm 73:28 – “But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.”
Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God.”
In the life of Jesus
Not only is Jesus in perfect union with the Father, but he prays the same for us.
John 17:20-21 – “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
Jesus makes it clear that this is his will for us: a life where we know God and his heart. Without this relationship we cannot live for him or on mission with him, but Jesus promises believers that we can have this union with God through the Spirit who dwells in us.
John 17:3 – “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
John 15:4-5 – “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 14:16-17 – “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”
In the New Testament
Scripture goes on to make it clear that the Christian life is to be lived in the power of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us and produces the new life that comes from union with God.
Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 5:25 – “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
Romans 8:5 – “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.”
Listen
The habit of listening in the Old Testament
In the wisdom literature of the Old Testament, we see that we must listen and understand others in order to be considered wise.
Proverbs 18:13 – “To answer before listening— that is folly and shame.”
Proverbs 18:15 – “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.”
Proverbs 20:5 – “The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.”
In the life of Jesus
Jesus is a listener throughout his ministry, listening patiently and curiously, even when others don’t, and even when he knows the answers already. He demonstrates the value of asking good questions and the care that listening can show people. The story of Bartimaeus is one example of this.
Mark 10:46-52 – “As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.”
In the New Testament
We see listening and understanding demonstrated in ministry throughout the New Testament. One example is Paul first observing and learning before preaching to the culture in Athens.
Acts 17:22-23 – “So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.”
In James, we are commanded to listen well.
James 1:9 – “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
Serve
The habit of serving in the Old Testament
There are many commands to Israel to love others and do good in the world.
Micah 6:8 – “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Deuteronomy 10:18-19 – “He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.”
Proverbs 14:31 – “Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.”
In the life of Jesus
Jesus came as a servant, as is demonstrated by his whole life, and most particularly his death on our behalf, the ultimate act of service to the needy.
Mark 10:45 – “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus calls us to live in this same way as an integral part of a life on mission to the world.
Matthew 5:14-16 – “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 22:36-40 – “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
John 15:13 – “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
In the New Testament
Scripture goes on to call us into this servant role alongside Jesus for his glory.
Philippians 2:3-7 – “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”
Hebrews 13:16 – “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
Echo
The habit of echoing God’s story in the Old Testament
Israel was often called and commanded to share God’s goodness with others.
1 Chronicles 16:23-24 – “Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!”
Psalm 96:2-3 – “Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!”
Isaiah 12:4-5 – “And you will say in that day: ‘Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth.’”
In the life of Jesus
Jesus came to point people to God and live out the story of salvation before them.
Luke 4:43 – “But he said to them, ‘I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.’”
Luke 19:10 – “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
John 14:6 – “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Jesus called us to join him in this mission in the power of the Spirit.
Matthew 28:19-20 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Mark 16:15 – “And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'”
Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
In the New Testament
Our role as those who tell God’s story to the world is made clear throughout the rest of Scripture.
2 Corinthians 5:20 – “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
Romans 10:14 – “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?”
1 Peter 3:15 – “In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
