Busy, Busy, Busy

July 22, 2018

The opposition is strong.  It’s so easy to get caught up in so many things that taking time out becomes unimportant and overlooked.  Jesus was a busy man, but he realized that if he was going to keep his ministry in proper perspective, that if he was going to have the strength to carry it out, that if he was going to defeat Satan and sin, he needed to be closely in touch with his Heavenly Father.

One of the sins of our age is our frenzied lifestyle.

That’s why God sent us a Savior.

That’s why Jesus died on a cross.

That’s why he adopted us into his family through our baptism.

That’s why he assures us again and again that we are forgiven people, that even the things we do that waste time are forgiven, and that’s hard for us to grasp. 

All of our mis-spent hours, all of the hurt we have caused others because we were too busy, all the harm we have done to ourselves by trying to cram too much into one day were all nailed with Jesus onto that cross.

Jesus knew just how stressed we can become.  He knew that we would get all our priorities upside down.  He was well aware that our chaotic lives would take their toll on not only our physical and mental health, but also our closeness with our Heavenly Father. 

Let this word from God today be a catalyst to get you thinking about where life is taking you.  Take time out with Him today; be refreshed by the one who loves you.

Gospel Lesson:

Mark 6:30-34 

³⁰ The apostles returned to Jesus and told him everything they had done and taught. ³¹ Many people were coming and going, so there was no time to eat. He said to the apostles, “Come by yourselves to a secluded place and rest for a while.” ³² They departed in a boat by themselves for a deserted place.

³³ Many people saw them leaving and recognized them, so they ran ahead from all the cities and arrived before them. ³⁴ When Jesus arrived and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things.

⁵³ When Jesus and his disciples had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret, anchored the boat, ⁵⁴ and came ashore. People immediately recognized Jesus⁵⁵ and ran around that whole region bringing sick people on their mats to wherever they heard he was. ⁵⁶ Wherever he went—villages, cities, or farming communities—they would place the sick in the marketplaces and beg him to allow them to touch even the hem of his clothing. Everyone who touched him was healed.