Epiphany 5
Devotional
Pause Before The Pulpit
Personal Reflections For Pastors On The Lectionary Readings
Mark 1:29-39
One of the many things I appreciate so much about Jesus, due to his human nature, is that he understood fatigue and the need to withdraw from people. If he, being God, got tired and needed to get away from people, how much more do we? The sooner we admit this, the better, for our desperate attempts to be "Super Pastors" (most often driven by a desire to please people) will eventually burn us out.
Notice the intensity of Jesus' ministry on one given day, which resulted in his fatigue and need to get away. First of all, as we read in last week's text (which immediately precedes this one), Jesus was in the synagogue preaching with authority. I don't know about you, but I almost always had a headache by Sunday afternoon -- especially when I was serving two congregations. Preaching is exhausting, especially when preaching with authority, because such preaching is intense, emotional, and spiritually draining. When Jesus spoke in the synagogue that day, he stirred up an unclean spirit. When we speak God's Word with his authority, we are going to stir up unclean spirits and that is exhausting!
From there, Jesus went to visit Peter's mother-in-law who was in bed with a fever. This would be similar to us going on a hospital visit on a Sunday afternoon. While there, Jesus healed her. I recall one Sunday, after preaching at two churches 25 miles apart, I grabbed a bite to eat. Then, with my wife along to do some of the driving, we traveled ninety miles to a larger city hospital to anoint with oil a seven-year-old boy who was dying of leukemia, and to also baptize his four-year-old sister. This was a high point in my day and an exhilarating experience that was very moving for all who were there, but it was also emotionally, physically, and, perhaps, spiritually draining for me. I can't imagine what it would be like to heal someone as Jesus did!
I don't know if Jesus got a nap in there somewhere or not, but notice verses 32-34. It was now evening, the sun was going down, and, when most pastors would probably be sitting down and relaxing with their families or a good book, Jesus was being surrounded by needy people. In fact we're told that the whole city was gathered around the door! Now, either it was a very small city or there was a large mob surrounding the house he was in. I tend to believe it was the latter. Jesus did not send them away, as many of us might have. Rather, he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. What a long day that must have been! And if Jesus got tired from it and needed to get away, how much more do we!
We might assume that he got some sleep that night, but the text doesn't say for sure. He may well have healed people late into the evening and possibly all night. However, our text tells us that he got up and went out while it was still early in the morning and there he prayed. I am of the personal opinion that the early morning hours, when the sun is beginning to come up, are truly the best hours of the day. I often walk for an hour or so in the mornings and have come to appreciate that time alone with God. I'm not sure why, but it seems like it is easier for me to pray while out under the wide open sky.
It would be interesting to know what Jesus prayed about that morning. And consider this: If he needed quiet time alone with God, how much more do we? I have become firmly convinced of the absolute importance of this in our daily lives. Prayer helps us get our focus on what really matters and what is most important for that day. It is through prayer that our sins are confessed, strength is found, vision restored, and determination received from the Lord. Jesus needed all of this to carry out his ministry.
We, too, desperately need this if we are going to be effective in our ministries. I urge you, if you are not already in the habit, to begin a daily habit of getting away by yourself and praying. It will never hurt you and your ministry, but if anything, will improve you and your ministry.
A Pastor's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the example you have set for me; that it is okay, and even essential, to get away from people when I am tired, to rest and pray. Help me to make time in my busy schedule for this and to use the time alone with you wisely. Amen.
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Often I've wondered what it would have been like to travel with the Apostle Paul and study under his leadership and example. This text gives us some idea, for it reveals some of his strategy, or methodology, for evangelism. One thing is clear, and that is what drove Paul. He wrote: I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
Paul clearly was not in the ministry for money. In fact, to make sure everyone knew that, he refused to take any compensation, even though he was fully entitled to financial support by the Christian church. If you were no longer able to be paid for proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, would you still do it? You see, a major difference between Paul and pastors of today, is that he proclaimed the gospel of his own will, free of charge, because that is what he wanted to do. No one (except the Lord, perhaps) was telling him that he had to get out there and preach. We might say that we proclaim the gospel free of charge and of our own will, but do we really? Is there not an offering taken at almost every service we preach at? Do we not serve under a board of some kind that dictates, to one degree or another, how we spend our time and (in some cases) even what we can preach on? Do not many of our church traditions dictate the form and style our worship will take, the texts we shall preach on, and the doctrines we are to be loyal to? What if all that was gone? What if you were free to travel and preach the gospel to any one you wanted, from any text you wanted, in any style and format you wanted, for only one reason and one reason only: that you might by all means save some? Do you see now the big difference between Paul's ministry and ours today? I don't know about you, but I find Paul's ministry quite intriguing and refreshing!
Paul's ministry approach, as spelled out in verses 19-23, was flexibility. He didn't compromise with sin, but he was willing, so far as it didn't conflict with God's will for his life, to do whatever it took to help someone come to faith in Christ. Can we say the same of our ministries? Are we willing to share Christ with anyone, or just those who come within the doors of our church? Are we willing to build relationships with anyone, or just those who have something to give back to our church by way of money, time, talents, and leadership? Are we willing to become a slave to all so that we might win more of them, for no other reason but for the sake of the gospel?
Paul's greatest passion seemed to be that of saving souls. Paul wasn't a "sheep" counter, nor did he allow himself to be consumed with matters of money, politics, and social concerns. I'm not saying he didn't write about those issues, for he did. However, his greatest concern was for the spiritual well-being of Jews and Gentiles alike.
Fellow colleague, what is your greatest passion in ministry? Is it that souls are saved, or that attendance is up? Is it that people grow up in Christ, or that the budget balances? Is it for the spiritual well-being of everyone you come in contact with, or is it to make yourself look good in the eyes of others?
What consumes your time? Is it administration? Is it people-pleasing? Is it social concerns?
May God have mercy on us and help us to make some quick changes if our passion is not that of saving souls. God help us, if the majority of our time is spent on anything but that.
Dear friend, follow the example of Paul by sharing the gospel freely, not because you are paid to, but because you want to. I also urge you to exercise flexibility in how you share it, so that by all means you might save some.
A Pastor's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Please examine the attitude of my heart. Where it is wrong, forgive me. Please show me what needs to change and help me to make the right adjustments so I might serve you as faithfully as the Apostle Paul. Even though I am paid for what I do, may I not proclaim your word for the purpose of money, but for the purpose of growing your kingdom. Thank you. Amen.
One of the many things I appreciate so much about Jesus, due to his human nature, is that he understood fatigue and the need to withdraw from people. If he, being God, got tired and needed to get away from people, how much more do we? The sooner we admit this, the better, for our desperate attempts to be "Super Pastors" (most often driven by a desire to please people) will eventually burn us out.
Notice the intensity of Jesus' ministry on one given day, which resulted in his fatigue and need to get away. First of all, as we read in last week's text (which immediately precedes this one), Jesus was in the synagogue preaching with authority. I don't know about you, but I almost always had a headache by Sunday afternoon -- especially when I was serving two congregations. Preaching is exhausting, especially when preaching with authority, because such preaching is intense, emotional, and spiritually draining. When Jesus spoke in the synagogue that day, he stirred up an unclean spirit. When we speak God's Word with his authority, we are going to stir up unclean spirits and that is exhausting!
From there, Jesus went to visit Peter's mother-in-law who was in bed with a fever. This would be similar to us going on a hospital visit on a Sunday afternoon. While there, Jesus healed her. I recall one Sunday, after preaching at two churches 25 miles apart, I grabbed a bite to eat. Then, with my wife along to do some of the driving, we traveled ninety miles to a larger city hospital to anoint with oil a seven-year-old boy who was dying of leukemia, and to also baptize his four-year-old sister. This was a high point in my day and an exhilarating experience that was very moving for all who were there, but it was also emotionally, physically, and, perhaps, spiritually draining for me. I can't imagine what it would be like to heal someone as Jesus did!
I don't know if Jesus got a nap in there somewhere or not, but notice verses 32-34. It was now evening, the sun was going down, and, when most pastors would probably be sitting down and relaxing with their families or a good book, Jesus was being surrounded by needy people. In fact we're told that the whole city was gathered around the door! Now, either it was a very small city or there was a large mob surrounding the house he was in. I tend to believe it was the latter. Jesus did not send them away, as many of us might have. Rather, he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. What a long day that must have been! And if Jesus got tired from it and needed to get away, how much more do we!
We might assume that he got some sleep that night, but the text doesn't say for sure. He may well have healed people late into the evening and possibly all night. However, our text tells us that he got up and went out while it was still early in the morning and there he prayed. I am of the personal opinion that the early morning hours, when the sun is beginning to come up, are truly the best hours of the day. I often walk for an hour or so in the mornings and have come to appreciate that time alone with God. I'm not sure why, but it seems like it is easier for me to pray while out under the wide open sky.
It would be interesting to know what Jesus prayed about that morning. And consider this: If he needed quiet time alone with God, how much more do we? I have become firmly convinced of the absolute importance of this in our daily lives. Prayer helps us get our focus on what really matters and what is most important for that day. It is through prayer that our sins are confessed, strength is found, vision restored, and determination received from the Lord. Jesus needed all of this to carry out his ministry.
We, too, desperately need this if we are going to be effective in our ministries. I urge you, if you are not already in the habit, to begin a daily habit of getting away by yourself and praying. It will never hurt you and your ministry, but if anything, will improve you and your ministry.
A Pastor's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the example you have set for me; that it is okay, and even essential, to get away from people when I am tired, to rest and pray. Help me to make time in my busy schedule for this and to use the time alone with you wisely. Amen.
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Often I've wondered what it would have been like to travel with the Apostle Paul and study under his leadership and example. This text gives us some idea, for it reveals some of his strategy, or methodology, for evangelism. One thing is clear, and that is what drove Paul. He wrote: I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
Paul clearly was not in the ministry for money. In fact, to make sure everyone knew that, he refused to take any compensation, even though he was fully entitled to financial support by the Christian church. If you were no longer able to be paid for proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, would you still do it? You see, a major difference between Paul and pastors of today, is that he proclaimed the gospel of his own will, free of charge, because that is what he wanted to do. No one (except the Lord, perhaps) was telling him that he had to get out there and preach. We might say that we proclaim the gospel free of charge and of our own will, but do we really? Is there not an offering taken at almost every service we preach at? Do we not serve under a board of some kind that dictates, to one degree or another, how we spend our time and (in some cases) even what we can preach on? Do not many of our church traditions dictate the form and style our worship will take, the texts we shall preach on, and the doctrines we are to be loyal to? What if all that was gone? What if you were free to travel and preach the gospel to any one you wanted, from any text you wanted, in any style and format you wanted, for only one reason and one reason only: that you might by all means save some? Do you see now the big difference between Paul's ministry and ours today? I don't know about you, but I find Paul's ministry quite intriguing and refreshing!
Paul's ministry approach, as spelled out in verses 19-23, was flexibility. He didn't compromise with sin, but he was willing, so far as it didn't conflict with God's will for his life, to do whatever it took to help someone come to faith in Christ. Can we say the same of our ministries? Are we willing to share Christ with anyone, or just those who come within the doors of our church? Are we willing to build relationships with anyone, or just those who have something to give back to our church by way of money, time, talents, and leadership? Are we willing to become a slave to all so that we might win more of them, for no other reason but for the sake of the gospel?
Paul's greatest passion seemed to be that of saving souls. Paul wasn't a "sheep" counter, nor did he allow himself to be consumed with matters of money, politics, and social concerns. I'm not saying he didn't write about those issues, for he did. However, his greatest concern was for the spiritual well-being of Jews and Gentiles alike.
Fellow colleague, what is your greatest passion in ministry? Is it that souls are saved, or that attendance is up? Is it that people grow up in Christ, or that the budget balances? Is it for the spiritual well-being of everyone you come in contact with, or is it to make yourself look good in the eyes of others?
What consumes your time? Is it administration? Is it people-pleasing? Is it social concerns?
May God have mercy on us and help us to make some quick changes if our passion is not that of saving souls. God help us, if the majority of our time is spent on anything but that.
Dear friend, follow the example of Paul by sharing the gospel freely, not because you are paid to, but because you want to. I also urge you to exercise flexibility in how you share it, so that by all means you might save some.
A Pastor's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Please examine the attitude of my heart. Where it is wrong, forgive me. Please show me what needs to change and help me to make the right adjustments so I might serve you as faithfully as the Apostle Paul. Even though I am paid for what I do, may I not proclaim your word for the purpose of money, but for the purpose of growing your kingdom. Thank you. Amen.
