Verse of the Day 11/6

Verse of the Day 11/6

 

Mark 6:31  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.   New Living Translation (NLT)

 

In this day and age you've probably heard someone say that they were so busy that they didn't have enough time eat or to even think.  Call it being caught up in the rat race or just call it life in the fast lane, call it what you may, but it is not the way God designed things or how Jesus thought it should be.  The Christian needs some quiet time, away from the fray, away from the "white noise" all around us, to draw near to God, to pray and to learn from Him.

 

This was brought to mind by the following quote that I read this morning in "Grace Gems".  "The Bible teacher needs solitude, that he may apprehend the breadth and length and depth and height of that great, majestic, illimitable book he is to proclaim. That he may seize hold of the truth of God--and that the truth of God may seize hold of him. That the truths of Scripture may become, more than ever, his own possession and exceeding joy. And then, out of the abundance of his heart, his mouth will speak.  Every saint needs solitude, that he may shake off the dust and grime of worldliness and sin. That, waiting on the Lord, he may renew his strength. That a fresh unction from the Holy One may make him spiritually wise and strong. (Alexander Smellie, "The Hour of Silence" 1899)

In the quote he references the Bible teacher and every saint.  It's true, the Bible teacher needs that quiet place, away from it all, to spend time with the Lord.  It may be a favorite chair, the front seat of a car before work or at lunchtime, or any number of places.  The place really doesn't matter but the time does.  Every saint, every Christian needs this, because when it boils down to it, we are all teachers to some degree, living and walking in faith.

 

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father's throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter's snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

 

Are you in a season of stress and grief?  Find relief in God's Word and in prayer.  Seize hold of the truth of God--and that the truth of God may seize hold of you.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Mark 6:30-34

The Message (MSG)

^30-31 The apostles then rendezvoused with Jesus and reported on all that they had done and taught. Jesus said, "Come off by yourselves; let's take a break and get a little rest." For there was constant coming and going. They didn't even have time to eat.

^32-34 So they got in the boat and went off to a remote place by themselves. Someone saw them going and the word got around. From the surrounding towns people went out on foot, running, and got there ahead of them. When Jesus arrived, he saw this huge crowd. At the sight of them, his heart broke—like sheep with no shepherd they were. He went right to work teaching them.