"Jesus never rushed. He set His life to the rhythm of connection and compassion. With great intentionality Jesus stayed unrushed. ... He knew stress. People pulled at Him everywhere He went. Crowds demanded sermons. Individuals begged for healing. The disciples wanted leadership. Friends wanted time with Him. The religious rulers wanted answers. There was an entire world to save with such limited time.
Yet, He didn’t rush. He talked with the woman at the well. He reached out His hand, making contact, and healed the leper. He felt the touch of the woman with the issue of blood and stopped for her. Do you see it? Connection and compassion were central to every interaction.
...
It would seem Jesus was unrushed so He could be incredibly intentional and laser-focused on CONNECTION and COMPASSION. "
Truth for Today:
Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing but encouraging one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (NIV)
Excerpt from Proverbs 31 ministries devotional by Lysa TerKeurst
http://proverbs31.org/devotions/devo/lord-unrush-me/
My Application:
Meeting together is not about our record if church attendance (about how many times was I in church serving when the "doors were open"). Rather about FELLOWSHIP, COMMUNITY, connection, and relationships within the body of Christ. Yes, it includes coming together to worship corporately but it is a small part. The focus is on relationships that encourage us to go further in love and good deeds as we pursue more of God made manifest in us.
The Lord taught our Old Testament saints to leave a margin for others to reap from our lives. God has been pressing on me to do this in all areas of my life: *time* - being intentional with the tasks and responsibilities He gives yet a good steward who leaves a margin of time that God can "interrupt" (redirect) and use those margins for sowing and reaping in others lives; *physical* *energy* - so that when God redirects I am not too exhausted that the divine opportunity gets my leftover but rather the intentional margin of energy set apart for His purposes; prayer - full to overflowing with extra of the prayerful presence of God; His word - not surviving on tidbits of His Word that barely get me through my own junk but to have abundance of His Word with margin in my mind and mouth, rightly dividing it but more than that, Jesus the Word made flesh as my constant companion, as a sword always at the ready, as a light to my path, and a lamp to my feet, that it points my life in the God's direction and that when others would see the light and difference and mostly in the midst of a full life if someone asks for Godly council there is so much margin of the Word in my life that out of my mouth flows His truth in love; ... and on and on ...
In my world and culture, and with my old ways and desires, making the change needed to create and maintain this life and abundance in God WITH MARGIN and to be faithful in all if the things it takes [like a field worked to provide for my household (which is all those connected to my life not just "me and mine") and for neighbors and strangers], is very very difficult.
The plowing, weeding, watering, sowing, reaping, protecting and even the harvesting is a constant cycle that requires diligence and enduring strength and faithfulness.
My Confession:
I am afraid that parts if my field have been poorly managed for so long that it may require much deep plowing to set things right.
My Prayer:
Teach me Jesus. Unrush me Jesus. Refocus me on connection and compassion.
Make and keep me passionate for you. Keep my mind from condemnation as I humble myself and bow my life before You. Show me how to live a full life for your honor without being rushed. Teach me to look to YOU and modeling Your Life as the one as I try to imitate. Help me when I get it "wrong" (ie it's already 7:30am and by my list I should be dressed and leaving), help me and give me knowledge AND revelation.
I love you my Lord, my Savior, my teacher, my friend.
I praise you for who You are. I praise you and am so thankful that you are my helper and you have not given up on me not left me.
May you goodness and love shine brightly from my heart. May you love and truth be the rudder of my boat today on the turbulent sometimes treacherous waters of life. Jesus you are my skillful guide.
Watch over and bless with knowledge and revaluations those "in my household and tribe" may they see You today and follow You guided by the truth of your Word and empowered by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Use us and transform us to bring You glory, we your student friends in Your boat under your command, make us obedient and teach us there "skills" of the kingdom.
AMEN
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