New Wine - Day 26

Mark 6:30-32  The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told Him all they had done and taught.  31 Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and His apostles didn’t even have time to eat.  32 So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone.
 
Luke 5:15-16  Yet the news about Him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses.  16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
 
How's your pace?  How is your pace of life?  While this is a very simple question, it can prove to be a very difficult, possibly painful, and revealing question.  So . . . how is your pace of life?  Who or what is determining and/or driving your pace of life?  Here is the 'big' question . . . are you, someone/something else, or Jesus determining and leading your pace of life?

I think if we are honest, we are finding this line of questioning a bit painful. I know for me and many of those I speak with and counsel, it can be a painful realization that most of the time it seems our pace of life is more led by ourselves rather than Jesus.  Even, as intentional disciples of Jesus! Because our pace in life is directly related to and greatly impacts our spiritual life, it is essential we carve out some intentional time to think about it.
 
Today we are going to reflect on Jesus's pace of life and the pace of life He invites us to with Him.  As disciples and apprentices of Jesus, we are desiring to learn from Him, as our Master and Teacher, how to live the 'Thy Kingdom Come' life in our lives.  So, what sort of pace does The Kingdom of God . . . The Reign of God, take up and create in the life of a Kingdom resident . . . as a disciple of The King?  When we take time to notice the pace of life Jesus lived and led, we will notice He was never in a hurry. He was arguably the busiest person Who ever walked the face of this earth, so it seems He would have the greatest reason to be the most hurried.  But, He wasn't. As one of my friends says, busyness is a matter of the calendar, but hurriedness is a matter of the heart.  And, it is the heart Jesus asks to reign in/over.  Jesus lived at the pace of grace.

Jesus lived always trusting The Father to guide and provide, and because of His trust in His Father He could rest in knowing His Father was always working so He didn't have to.

JOURNAL

1. How might Jesus be asking you to learn from Him about the pace of your life?

2.  Are there areas in your life you sense He would like to see you surrender so you can slow down and rest in His love and grace?
3.  How do you sense Jesus is asking you to let Him lead you today according to His pace as His beloved disciple?