|
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion Monday, June 30, 2003 "Advance Not Retrear" |
|
Frontline Devotion for Monday, June 30, 2003 By Pastor Dave Sonnenberg
Text for the Day: Luke 5: 11-15
I live in a part of the country where people move at a crazy pace. I know that all parts of the country are filled with busy people, but it seems like the Metro DC area is loaded with people moving at rocket pace.
We are people moving to this thing and that thing. There are carpools to run, there are parties to attend, and countless trips we need to go on. There are ways we can fill our lives with perpetual responsibility.Do we ever pause and take a good look at this.
This is the time of year in which many people are venturing away for vacations. In many ways, that means people will get a retreat. They will get away from normal life for a while. Perhaps that means work and other duties will be set aside for a week or so. Perhaps that means you will leave some worries for a while. Perhaps that means you will have some time to play, or read, or catch up on your sleep. Many will return from their summer retreats all refreshed. But will they simply run back and wear themselves out running at a crazy pace? I think the pattern of many is to run wild until you are tired and then retreat.
One of the most helpful phrases I’ve heard in these post modern times is a phrase by Leonard Sweet. Sweet reminds us that Jesus never retreated in his busy life. By that he wasn’t saying that Jesus didn’t take time to pause and get away. Rather, when Jesus got away it was always an ADVANCE. When Jesus paused, it was always to gain strength for the next venture into spreading the Kingdom. In the Gospel lesson today, Jesus is in the early phases of his ministry. He had been healing and now the crowds were getting big. He was very busy and people would have been around him all the time. His daily life would have been busy, but pay attention to the way he gathered strength- he prayed. It says he did this often. It’s always neat to see what happens after he prayed. In all cases, Jesus got back to work and advanced and enriched the lives of others in amazing ways.
What might happen if we paused daily, prayed, and saw our devotional time as an ADVANCE?
Hear that basic call to pray daily. Enter into conversation with the living God in the midst of your busy life. Advances in the Kingdom will be around the corner, starting with you. Reach out to others this day.
Prayer: Lord God, we thank you that you never retreated from the work of the Kingdom. Rather, we thank you for pausing for the purpose of advancing your Father’s work. Teach us to stop running ourselves ragged. In the midst of busy days, help us to see our devotional time and our prayer time as a means of gathering strength for the work that lies ahead in advancing your kingdom. Amen
Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily.. They will also be posted to the web site if you want to direct others to our web site for more information. Sign up by clicking on the box below
All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry. Pastor Dave welcomes and appreciates feedback. pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org.