By David ReayMonday 14 Nov 2016LifeWords DevotionalsFaithReading Time: 0 minutes
Transcript:
Read Mark 6:31
31 Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. (NLT)
We were never made to be ‘on the go’ all the time. We were made so as to function best when we observe certain rhythms, in particular the cycle of rest and activity. We might imagine that our own busyness reflects something of Jesus’ own life, always going around doing all the good he could.
But our text today reminds us that even Jesus observed rhythms. He engaged with people and withdrew from people. Surrounded by clamouring crowds and overwhelming needs, Jesus goes off to a quiet place with his colleagues. He knew, as we sometimes forget, that caring for oneself is a prerequisite for caring for others.
None of us is indispensable. We have important things to do and indeed we may be the best one to do such things. But we are not God. Only God never sleeps. Only God can be in two places at once. Only God has the whole world in his hands. Only God can be all things to all people.
It is a relief and a blessing to live within our limits. We can then be free to do what we can in the power of the Spirit. When we honour our own human limitations we become more fully human as God intended. We are better able to recognise our ultimate dependence on God. We are better able to graciously accept the limitations of others if we have graciously accepted our own.
Blessings
David Reay