BEEN TOO BUSY SERVING?

In Mark 1:35, the gospel reads "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."

Look at Jesus, after all the explosive and cinematic scenes of healing the sick, driving out demons and the unceasing demand for pity from weary souls, He stopped and “went to a solitary place and prayed.”

Why? Because Jesus loves the God of the service, and not the service of God. To Him, “service” takes on value only if it puts a smile on the Father’s face.

Friend, if you are doing more than what you can handle for the day, you are doing things that God doesn’t want you to do. STOP! “Stopping” in the presence of God gives Him better pleasure than frantic, ego-boosting ministry busyness.

Progressing towards spiritual maturity is a process that will never end in this life. If you are going to be complete or mature in Christ, you need not only to pray but you likewise need the prayers of others as well. In the long haul, I am convinced that none of us make it across the finish line without the prayers from other Christians. Colossians 4:12 read, "Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

To become mature in your faith, make sure you are under solid biblical preaching and teaching, and develop the prayer habit as well as soliciting the prayers of others.


REFLECTION:

Have I been too busy serving, too tired to enjoy the gift of ministry? Who do I really love: the Lord of the service or the service of the Lord?

PRAYER:
Lord, let me remember that I serve because I want to give You pleasure. If I’m doing my ministry with other motives in mind, disturb me and lead me back to Your smile.

FULL GOSPEL Mark 1:29-3929 On leaving the synagogue he entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her.
31 He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited
on them.
32 When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by
demons.
33 The whole town was gathered at the door.
34 He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not
permitting them to speak because they knew him.
35 Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
36 Simon and those who were with him pursued him
37 and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
38 He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this
purpose have I come.”
39 So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of
Galilee.


Compilation from: Kerygma and Bayles Conley