Never Too Busy


Matthew 14:34-36
34And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.
35And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick
36and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.

Three simple verses for today. They come at the end of a long series of miracles and parables that are meant to further define both Jesus and His Kingdom here on earth. By this point in the story of Jesus ministry His fame has spread and people want to receive what He has to offer – at least in terms of their immediate needs. And offer it freely He does. All they need to do is touch the hem of His garment and they are healed of their sickness. And because He is our compassionate Lord He allows this to happen over and over again.

But Jesus also knew how to walk with balance. This is something we have lost in our lives. He knew when to withdraw from the crowds and have a moment alone with the Father. He also knew when to be fully engaged with the people and compassionately give them what they needed. We are quick to be engaged and tend toward frantically running all around in order to meet everyone’s needs but we haven’t learned (in many cases) to take the time to withdraw and spend that revitalizing time with the Father. It’s not healthy and it’s not God’s way. Thus we become distracted and worn. Stress levels run at an all-time high and the joy of serving others is lost in the busyness of it all.



I realize this advice is easily given and tough to follow. Even as I type the words I am aware of the fact that I need to be hearing this message not delivering it! All of us know what it means to live in this world of cultural overload. Too many stimulations coming at us all at once can be crazy making. And frankly, learning to experience a little quiet is a great deal of work (at least it is for me). There’s where Jesus has it all over us. He didn’t have to learn how to spend time with the Father. He was drawn to it and practiced it often. Then when the crowds gathered around Him to touch His hem, He was ready for it. Maybe it’s time to stop typing and start listening!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

יהוה שָׁמַר--Yahweh Shamar (God Watches)

Image
Psalm 121 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. There are numerous passages I cling to when stress takes over my life. I would be hard pressed to declare a favorite, but this psalm would come close. So this morning I listened to Psalm 121 about 20 times as I meditated through the verses. First, I want to point out that the word or idea of shamar appears in every verse expect 6. The NIV uses the word "watch" while the ESV uses "keep". The
Read more

Excusez-moi

Image
2 Kings 23:31-37 31 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 32 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done. 33 And Pharaoh Neco put him in bonds at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem, and laid on the land a tribute of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. 34 And Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the place of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz away, and he came to Egypt and died there. 35 And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh, but he taxed the land to give the money according to the command of Pharaoh. He exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, from everyone according to his assessment, to give it to Pharaoh Neco. 36 Jehoiakim was twenty-fiv
Read more

Narrow Door

Image
Luke 13:22-30 22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them , 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ 28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at tabl
Read more