Early on in His ministry, the disciples woke one morning to find many people looking for Jesus. Surely He would want to speak with them, they assumed, delighted no doubt by His rapidly rising popularity.
But they couldn’t find Him!
Jesus, they later found out, had got up while it was still dark and taken Himself off to enjoy being alone with His Father. During this time, He had also discerned His Father’s leading for the day.
When Peter eventually found Him and urged Him to return, Jesus replied, ‘Let us go somewhere else – to the nearby villages – so that I can preach there also. THAT IS WHY I HAVE COME [uppercase emphasis mine].” (Mark 1:35-39)
Both here and elsewhere we read how Jesus never assumed from circumstances the right thing to pursue. He always sought His Father first. Consequently, at the end of His life He could say without any doubt or regret, “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do” (John 17:4).
To assume is to jump to conclusions from what we feel, think, see or hear. To discern is to wait, to pray, and look out for or listen to God’s response, with the eyes and ears of our heart. And so, as we follow His leading we will one day be able to say, “I have sought to bring You glory, Father, even if I’ve failed at times.”
– What might “everyone is looking for you” feel or look like in your life? Who or what makes demands or puts pressure on you aside of the obvious responsibilites you have as parents, carers, employees etc ?
– Before reacting in haste to these demands or expectations, allow yourself time to be with God, to enjoy His presence, and in time, to discern anything He may speak or reveal to guide your use of the day(s).
– Even when opportunities look favourable or enticing, bear in mind what someone wisely counselled me to consider:
“Is it merely good, or is it of God?”
Pursuing God’s purpose is not always about the “what”, but is always about the “how”. So whatever we put our hand to each day in the home, our community, in paid or voluntary roles, and in times of sickness as well as health, it is how we love and potentially serve others that glorifies God. It is how we live that Jesus, Paul and others so often focus on.
– Am I too focused onwhat God might be calling me to do, instead of prioritising how I am living and so loving others today?