Come With Me

 “The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

— Mark 6:30-31

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

What an accurate picture of ministry. The scenario: we gather around Jesus, excited about all He is doing through us, praising our Savior for the lives changed and disciples made. People are coming and going... Yes, people are coming to our fellowship, and people are going—being sent out, departing, leaving. It's a never-ending cycle it seems. People coming... people going... And in all that movement, one scarcely has a chance to eat. No time for physical nourishment for sure, but it also seems no time for spiritual nourishment. When do I have time for myself to just eat? To get the energy I need for more doing and teaching, for more coming and more going? That's the moment when You call me away to yourself.

"Come with me by yourself." Come with me. Jesus, you are leading me away with you. You have a place in mind and you are inviting me to come with you.

"To a quiet place." This is a place of Your choosing that is free of all the doing and teaching, free of the coming and going. It is a place to simply be.

"And get some rest." At Your invitation, I am invited to take the initiative and access Your rest. There's intentionality to it. I have to get it. I have to do what's necessary with You in this quiet place to get some rest.

"Some rest." It is some rest. It's not all the rest I'll ever need. It's a rhythm of rest. I will work out of the rest I gain and then I'll return for more rest. I don't expect this to be all the rest. It's some rest. But it is rest. It is rest for my body. It is rest for my mind. It is rest for my soul. You are the inviter, the initiator, and the imparter of the rest that I need today.

In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!

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