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Good morning, Saints, and greetings in the name of Jesus Christ!
It is likely that I don’t need to describe too many examples to have us consider that our world today is addicted to more: more money (seems obvious), more news feeds, more social media, more digital hits; thereby stimulating more dopamine, more excitement, more performance, more manufactured beauty, and yes, even more additions. In short, I believe we've become addicted to more.
Today’s devotion is dedicated to looking at three instances where Jesus created margin in His world to avoid more. The first passage comes from Luke, after Jesus heals a man with leprosy, “Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:15. After this miracle, no doubt others wanted to get in line to be healed, being fully God and fully man, rest is still required; only Jesus could know His own bandwidth and how to manage His resources best. Time alone with His Father in prayer is a priority to Jesus. We, too, may do well to create a margin in our lives and incorporate time alone with our Father.
The second passage is from the Gospel of Mark. “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.” Again, the Son of Man makes time to be with our Heavenly Father for communion, time to share and bear burdens, and a time to be fed. In our lives, we often have a strong desire to be engaged in family, work, friends, hobbies, and even fun. Here, Jesus shows us the importance of creating margin to fully engage with our Father to be loved and nurtured. Jesus also gives us a glimpse of how to prioritize and manage important urgent matters. While the disciples are focused on the crowds, Jesus prioritizes, wishing to reach new people in nearby villages, and reminds us to focus on the mission (the Great Commission) of spreading the gospel urgently to others.
Similar to other gospel accounts, Mark describes what happens after the disciples return to Jesus, describing their efforts, “The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.” It’s as if the disciples were so busy and excited they neglected to take care of themselves, even forgetting to eat. Jesus notices need. The need to rest and eat to successfully continue their mission and journey ahead is important. So important that He whisks them away to a solitary place to take care of them. When we’re busy doing more, Saints, neglecting ourselves at times, even forgetting to eat, may we hear Jesus’ words echo in our hearts, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Amen!
In Christ’s love, and mine,
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