A time to rest, a time to serve!

Reflecting on Mark 6:30-44

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31)
As a Jesus follower, I look forward to my times alone with Jesus.
Jesus also seemed to enjoy His time alone with His disciples.
This was an especially challenging time, with His cousin’s death.
Jesus hears about John’s death, and is overwhelmed by the crowds.
He needs time alone to grieve and process John’s death.
As He wept for Lazarus’s death, He no doubt grieved for John too.

We all need times of quiet and rest.
A time to rest, a time to reflect on life with Jesus.
Do you sense Jesus inviting you to come with Him alone.
Do you take time to be alone with Jesus, just to rest in peace?

Unfortunately, life does not always cooperate.
Their time alone together is interrupted by the desperate crowds.
Jesus sees the people and has compassion on them.
They are harassed and helpless, like sheep without shepherd (Mark 6:34).
Actually, there were many shepherds (religious leaders).
But these shepherds were not caring for the sheep (Ezekiel 34).
The crowds were eager to be with Jesus too, and He saw their deep need.
So much for time alone with His disciples.

Jesus wants to be with us; He also wants to be with His other sheep.
Jesus shows the disciples how they are a part of this calling.
“You give them something to eat” (Mark 6:37) involves them in shepherding.
In other words, lead my sheep to green grass and quiet waters (Psalm 23).
This is our mission as followers of Jesus.
To help other sheep come with Jesus into quiet and rest.

Finding the balance between resting and serving is a challenge.
There are many pressing needs in our day – family, friends, neighbours, strangers.
If we want them to know rest in peace in Jesus, we need to show and help them.
We need to model it with our own lives, by taking time alone with Jesus.
And we need to share it with others as the opportunity arises, by feeding others.
Our quiet times may be interrupted, and compassion leads us to respond.
But serving should never fully replace resting.
Being alone with Jesus is essential, but so is serving others with Jesus.
There is a time to rest, and a time to serve.

I have no formula for success in this, just a desire to do both.
Sometimes interruptions are opportunities, God moments!
This time to feed the crowds was seen by Jesus as an opportunity.
He was tired, He was sad, but He was also compassionate for others.
Sometimes interruptions are obstacles, distractions from Satan.
The only way I know how to discern what they are is by being with Jesus.
In my times alone with Jesus, He helps me discern what is happening.
As I journal through circumstances, I sense the opportunities and obstacles,
Being alone with Jesus puts me in a better frame of mind to decide.
I find that interruptions are more often opportunities, when I am resting in Jesus.
It is when I am agitated, stressed, worried about many things, that I can’t see it.
Like Martha in the kitchen, she did not see Jesus as an opportunity (Luke 10:38-42).

Our tendency is to neglect time alone with Jesus, so that we can work.
But neglecting time alone with Jesus weakens our work with others.
Yes, we are called to produce good fruit for Jesus.
But apart from Jesus, we cannot produce that good fruit.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:5-8)

In order to feed/serve others, we need to be fed/served ourselves.
Like in a plane, attach your own oxygen before you help the person beside you.
“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31)
“You give them something to eat” (Mark 6:37)
These depend on each other.
There is a time to rest, and a time to serve.
What time is it for you?

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, thank You for the time we do spend alone together, and for the quiet and rest these times provide. I admit I am reluctant to leave these times to serve others. Strengthen Your compassion in me, so that I am more free to share it with others. May our time together help me to see whatever happens today as a God-moment opportunity, not an obstacle.