The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all that they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. (Mark 6:30-32, NIV)
My nephew André is an active, full of life eight-year-old. He plays hard and fast all day long. He gets so involved in his activities, however, that he forgets to eat and drink. At 52 pounds light, this is not good for a boy who needs to nourish his body to grow. When he forgets to eat, he experiences headaches that take him out of the action for the rest of the day.
Our days may not be filled with play, but they can be so full that we rarely have enough time to accomplish everything. When we get busy, even when we are doing good things, our self-care tends to be neglected first. We may skip a meal or miss enjoying the little moments and think nothing of it. Over time, this can lead to stress and illness, taking us out of the action as well.
The apostles experienced busy days too. After being sent out in pairs, the apostles excitedly returned to share with Jesus all they had done. Many people kept coming to them throughout the day and they had no time to eat. Jesus recognized this was not good and said, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” And they escaped with Jesus. The Lord knew his disciples needed to eat, take a break, and rest; otherwise they would not be at their best.
While memorizing today’s passage recently, I was reminded that Jesus is interested in what I am doing, and he also knows when I get too busy—usually before I do. Although Jesus and the apostles were helping a large amount of people, Jesus wanted them to walk away and find a quiet place for rest. Jesus set an example about the importance of taking time out from the hustle and bustle of our schedules.
The punch line in these verses for me is: “He said to them, ‘Come with me…’” When we take time and go to a quiet place, we need Jesus to be there with us, because he is the source from where our nourishment and rest come. It wasn’t hard for the apostles to stay close to Jesus because he was with them in the flesh. If Jesus said come, they followed. “So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.”
I wish I could say that I follow Jesus every time I sense him saying, “Come with me,” but I don’t. I get consumed in my own agenda or helping others and ignore my need to be in a quiet place with him. When I do respond to his invitation, I have found that reading or memorizing scripture, praying, listening to worship music, and journaling what I hear him speaking to me are ways that help me stay in his presence. Sometimes all it takes is simply sitting quietly and asking Jesus to hold me.
Whether it’s a few moments or several hours, sitting in a quiet place with Jesus is being kind to ourselves and provides a place for all the other details of life to land. Let’s stay in the game by remembering to eat, drink, and rest in a quiet place with Jesus.
—
Tracy Hanson
March 28, 2012
Copyright © 2012 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday through Friday at www.linksplayers.com.