Like Jesus Did
There was a time when I would get up before the sun did, and while everyone in my house was asleep, I'd go to my office (the Parsonage was 5 feet from the church offices at the church I served), pray and read The Word by myself, and then fellowship with a brother in Christ until he had to go to work at 6:15. I loved having that accountability! I've found, though, lately it's hard for me to get up and do that. I am too tired, and hit my snooze alarm 3-4 times before waking up and hour and a half later than I wanted to. I just don't seem to have the time I want to to spend time alone with God and in fellowship with brothers in Christ. Yet, I find time for many other activities. As a matter of fact, I MAKE time for other activities. So Why don't I have time to pray and read in the quiet of the morning before everyone else wakes up? If I'm honest with myself, I have time. I can either lose something, or drag my backside out of bed and make time for Jesus, as He did for His Father every morning. As I read through the Gospels, the busier Jesus was, the more time He took to be alone with His Father. His time alone with the Father was so regular, it's where they knew they'd find Him if they needed Him, even up to the moment of His betrayal. If I'm honest with myself, I need to stop what I'm doing, make an appointment with the Father, and keep it. I need to make time, daily, to pray and read, to spend time with Abba, as Jesus did. I am a vessel of the Holy Spirit! I need to submit my time, treasures, and talents to Him, so that He can take my busy schedule back from me, and give me time alone with God as I am in desperate need of it! I do not think this is for me only, but for ALL who call upon the name of the Lord. If Jesus is important, we will MAKE time, just as we make time to do everything else we do. We will seek to direct all of our focus, whether getting up or laying down, working, or loving, or living, and we will submit our schedules to the Lord, so that we will make Him the priority of our lives. Our jobs, activities, and anything else going on will some day be no more, but God will remain forever. Let us seek, then, to get a foothold in eternity now by claiming our relationship with God in Jesus name, just as Jesus did! Time alone with the Father is important. Wherever you find that time, make it your priority, as Jesus did, to give your complete focus and energy to the Father.
From Luke 5 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
12While He was in one of the towns, a man was there who had a serious skin disease all over him.q He saw Jesus, fell facedown, and begged Him: “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me •clean.”
13Reaching out His hand, He touched him,r saying, “I am willing; be made clean,” and immediately the disease left him. 14Then He ordered him to tell no one:s “But go and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses prescribed for your cleansing as a testimony to them.”
15But the news about Him spread even more, and large crowds would come together to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16Yet He often withdrew to deserted places and prayed.
