janbear
10-07-2008, 07:26 AM
You've Got To Get Alone
"Then Jesus said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.""
- (Mark 6:31 NLT)
Imagine for a moment that you're one of the twelve. You've just been launched into an all-out assault against the Kingdom of Hell. Christ has given you a measure of His divine authority, and now you're able to preach with power, cast out demons, and miraculously heal the sick (Mark 6:12-13). Nothing on earth can stand in your way. In a word, you're "amped," and you can't wait to tell Jesus what you did for Him.
You do just that, and in the back of your mind you wonder what incredible feats the next set of marching orders might include. But you're surprised when Jesus responds by saying, "Let's get away." Get away... . . . now? Just when the spiritual tide is turning in our favor? Can't we get away later? Isn't it better to strike now while the iron is hot?
But as usual, Jesus understood something the disciples didn't, and that was their absolute necessity to spend some time with Him in a quieter spot. If they didn't, it would only be a matter of time before they were burnt out by the very fires that fueled their zeal to serve Him.
There are certainly seasons of activity in a disciple's life, but such seasons must always be balanced by the quiet times spent in Christ's presence. For it's only there that our perspective is brought into proper focus, our strength is renewed, and we're reminded of why we became disciples to begin with.
Discipleship that doesn't involve a regular respite alone with Jesus isn't discipleship. It's a ritualistic regimen at best and a precursor to spiritual burnout at worst.
What are the two specific commands of Jesus in this passage? What steps do the disciples take to obey?
Why is it important to obey even when we may not understand?
Godspeaks.com
"Then Jesus said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.""
- (Mark 6:31 NLT)
Imagine for a moment that you're one of the twelve. You've just been launched into an all-out assault against the Kingdom of Hell. Christ has given you a measure of His divine authority, and now you're able to preach with power, cast out demons, and miraculously heal the sick (Mark 6:12-13). Nothing on earth can stand in your way. In a word, you're "amped," and you can't wait to tell Jesus what you did for Him.
You do just that, and in the back of your mind you wonder what incredible feats the next set of marching orders might include. But you're surprised when Jesus responds by saying, "Let's get away." Get away... . . . now? Just when the spiritual tide is turning in our favor? Can't we get away later? Isn't it better to strike now while the iron is hot?
But as usual, Jesus understood something the disciples didn't, and that was their absolute necessity to spend some time with Him in a quieter spot. If they didn't, it would only be a matter of time before they were burnt out by the very fires that fueled their zeal to serve Him.
There are certainly seasons of activity in a disciple's life, but such seasons must always be balanced by the quiet times spent in Christ's presence. For it's only there that our perspective is brought into proper focus, our strength is renewed, and we're reminded of why we became disciples to begin with.
Discipleship that doesn't involve a regular respite alone with Jesus isn't discipleship. It's a ritualistic regimen at best and a precursor to spiritual burnout at worst.
What are the two specific commands of Jesus in this passage? What steps do the disciples take to obey?
Why is it important to obey even when we may not understand?
Godspeaks.com