Taking Father’s car for a reckless spin is a much-loved pastime for some teenagers. Yet, compared with a ride with Jesus behind the wheel of his Father’s car, it’s like a go-cart on a runway. Why settle for a battery-powered experience when God offers a jet-fueled one.

Jesus invites us to jump in, fasten our seat belts and hold on. The door is open, and Jesus is calling, “Ride with me!”

He’s on the greatest joy ride any son has ever taken. Not recklessly, but intentionally. Not for his own pleasure, but for the Father’s pleasure.

Participation not only takes us into the good life, but it also launches us into God’s life. God longs for us to participate in him in every moment of our day. Every decision we make can include these questions: “Jesus, what is it that you want?” “Okay Jesus, would you help me to do this?” and “Jesus, what do you want to teach me through this experience?”

In the book, The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence summed up the practice of participation when he wrote: We need only to recognize God intimately present with us, to address ourselves to him every moment, that we may beg his assistance for knowing his will in things doubtful, and for rightly performing those which we plainly see he requires of us, offering them to him before we do them, and giving him thanks when we have done.

This type of participation is surely what Paul meant when he instructed the Colossians, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17).