Word@Work 014 - Mark 1:35-39
Published: Thu, 11/29/07
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 1:35-39 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. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!" Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else, to the nearby villages, so that I can preach there also. That is why I have come." So he travelled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. (NIV)
The worlds of prayer and popularity are always in opposition to each other.
Prayer speaks of intimacy with a holy God: popularity speaks of superficiality with a selfish crowd. Prayer provides a conversation where you don't have to pretend; but popularity eventually produces the anxiety of keeping up appearances. Yet how often we prefer the crowd to the Lord, and in so doing we feed the flesh and starve the spirit.
Is it therefore surprising that today's Christians are fascinated to jump on the latest bandwagon of spiritual fix-its? They have forgotten Elijah's testimony that the Lord was not in the earthquake, wind or fire. The Lord was in the 'still small voice'. The experience of the Lord Jesus was the same. God speaks when we make the time to listen.
It is not easy to carve that undiluted time, that 'Nothing Else Time' out of a busy day. The lunch break, the train or bus journey, the privacy of your own office or a five-minute walk between buildings may allow you a brief chat with your Maker; but Jesus was praying alone before the early shift was awake.
The gospel priority of our Lord did not seek to trade on popularity and neither should you. At best, the esteem of others is transient, at worst it is deluding - it is always a diversion to dependence on the Lord. Even the apparent safety of work we know, may make us reluctant to follow God's call into uncharted service. The choice, to pray before the priorities of the world suffocate us, is therefore a Christ-like decision.
Prayer: Holy God, thank You for this time before your Word. If I am to fulfil Your will in this place I need Your direction. I know that I need to change my priorities so that I can spend time with You before I am swept helplessly into another whirlpool of work. Please help me for Jesus' sake, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
The worlds of prayer and popularity are always in opposition to each other.
Prayer speaks of intimacy with a holy God: popularity speaks of superficiality with a selfish crowd. Prayer provides a conversation where you don't have to pretend; but popularity eventually produces the anxiety of keeping up appearances. Yet how often we prefer the crowd to the Lord, and in so doing we feed the flesh and starve the spirit.
Is it therefore surprising that today's Christians are fascinated to jump on the latest bandwagon of spiritual fix-its? They have forgotten Elijah's testimony that the Lord was not in the earthquake, wind or fire. The Lord was in the 'still small voice'. The experience of the Lord Jesus was the same. God speaks when we make the time to listen.
It is not easy to carve that undiluted time, that 'Nothing Else Time' out of a busy day. The lunch break, the train or bus journey, the privacy of your own office or a five-minute walk between buildings may allow you a brief chat with your Maker; but Jesus was praying alone before the early shift was awake.
The gospel priority of our Lord did not seek to trade on popularity and neither should you. At best, the esteem of others is transient, at worst it is deluding - it is always a diversion to dependence on the Lord. Even the apparent safety of work we know, may make us reluctant to follow God's call into uncharted service. The choice, to pray before the priorities of the world suffocate us, is therefore a Christ-like decision.
Prayer: Holy God, thank You for this time before your Word. If I am to fulfil Your will in this place I need Your direction. I know that I need to change my priorities so that I can spend time with You before I am swept helplessly into another whirlpool of work. Please help me for Jesus' sake, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
W@W014 | Word@Work 2002, 2007 © Dr Paul Adams | Provided by BeaconLight
Contact us at wordatwork@beaconlight.co.uk
Your next Word@Work will be sent on
Contact us at wordatwork@beaconlight.co.uk
Your next Word@Work will be sent on