Jesus gave to everyone, always. Right?
Jesus ministered to every man who needed him. Right?
Jesus never stopped giving, ever. Right?
Wrong.
One evening after sunset the people brought Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. (Mk. 1:32-34)
Notice, Jesus healed “many.” But, as I see it: many is not all.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”(Mark 1:35-38)
Notice, while the crowds of people waited… While people were still searching him out… He did what?!!!
He went off.
He turned away from the demands of man to connect to the voice of God. Away from the calls of man, He could once again to hear the call of God. We see Jesus restating his purpose to the disciples when he said, “This is why I have come.”
Jesus let go of a “very good call” (taking care of every person’s waking need), for a better one: going where the Father desired Him to be and following through on his vision/mission as planned.
What might you be doing today that is thwarting God’s mission for tomorrow?
We are wise to look into our life to see:
- If our heart to do things is causing us to lose peace.
Consider: Stepping away and praying. - If we feel upset at others for all we’ve done for them.
Consider: Stepping away and praying. - If we are so tired, we can hardly love people anymore.
Consider: Stepping away and praying. - If we feel God has something new for us to do.
Consider: Stepping away and praying. - If others want us to do something more than we can do.
Consider: Stepping away and praying.
Prayer re-centers us, not on the plans of man, but on the purpose of God in our lives.
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Thanks for this … I find it relevant to my day today as I go to work and consider how to respond to a performance review I was given on Tuesday. “Ministry” is also about how we work. I could apply questions like yours to my work situation. What are my bosses expecting of me? Step away and pray. What are my goals for my career? Step away and pray. Am I fulfilling all my tasks to the highest degree of professionalism? Step away and pray. Am I having a work/life balance crisis? Step away and pray.
Thanks, again.
Thank you for this great post. I’ve recently been struggling with how to parent my two children- the older one a struggler and the younger one a natural thriver at almost everything. They are both beginning to notice these things, and the older one is beginning to question why the younger is more naturally capable at things than she is. The only answer we can give her is that God created each of them differently, and He has different plans for them. As a parent it’s difficult to watch the child who struggles, but it also keeps me weak and in constant prayer for what he wants for her and for myself as a parent. When we are weak and lacking understanding, I’ve found that the best place to be. It brings us coming back to God’s word. It keeps us constantly seeking God’s wisdom and guidance.
This is great. Thank you!
I used to believe He healed all to so when I wasn’t I thought something was wrong with me, but there is also deliverance and some people who just will not believe. Some demons just have names like anger, resentment and spite, they too can make you sick.