Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Mark 1:35-39
How Jesus Loved People
Jesus loved people by going somewhere. He went to nearby villages throughout Galilee, preaching and driving out demons.
But what about before that?
What did He do to prepare Himself — to preach and drive out demons?
Love Like Jesus
I confess, I’ve had many gods over my lifetime. For most of the time my kids were growing up my kids were my god, then when they left the nest my wife was my god, then tennis, then my real estate portfolio, then my job. Of course none of these things are evil in any way, but each had a place as the ultimate in my life, ahead of the God of Jesus.
Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. …his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
If everyone were looking for you, where would they find you?
Would they find you away from the house, in a solitary place, praying, or reading God’s scriptures?
Or would they find you with family, or on the golf course, or playing that online game you’re hooked on, or on Facebook, or watching football?
If people wouldn’t find you going deep in your relationship with God, in the way Jesus did, people won’t find you loving people like Jesus did either.
Think this through with me: If the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the Messiah Himself carved out deep times with His God before serving Him, how much more do you and I need to?
A person will carve out time to spend with his God. The only question is: Who or what is your God?
What is it for you? Is it family, or golf, or that online game, or Twitter, or Facebook, or ESPN? Whatever your god is, I’m guessing you carve out time for it, right?
Or is your God the same God as Jesus’ God. The way to tell is to take an honest look at where your time is spent, where your energy goes, where your money winds up.
Your God is where you invest yourself.
To love people, Jesus first loved His God, by investing Himself in His God, in the morning, in a solitary place, One on One with Him.
Before you can love like Jesus, you must love God first, in the way Jesus did.
To love people like Jesus do what He did. Go to a solitary place, be alone with God, just you and He. Pray to Him, pray with Him, read His words written to you.
Then go and love people.
Try it.
You’ll be amazed at the difference.
Notes:
…Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (Luke 5:16)
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As always, you provide the reader with deep insights. Thank you for writing this piece.
Thanks for stopping by Paul.
“To love people like Jesus, do what He did. Go to a solitary place, be alone with God, just you and He. Pray to Him, pray with Him, read His words written to you.”
Last night my husband and I watched the new Christian movie “I am Gabriel” with Dean Cain and John Schneider. Turn off the cell phones, lock the door, and get out the tissues!
Every believer should watch this movie. It is designed to draw believers in Messiah closer to Him; to draw them to talk with Him one on one; to draw them to hope, to faith, to trust and to expectation of the impossible through Him…for such a time as this!
Gabriel, a “boy”, a vessel, is used by the Almighty to “wake up” a Texan town named Promise, where faith and hope and trust has all but disappeared. And they are revived.
The interesting part is the introduction of the prayer mats through Gabe, and how they are used to bring one to his knees to talk with his/her Creator. Without faith, there are no miracles; without prayer, there is no Divine Presence. It is through communication that draws His Presence into our lives; when His Presence shows up, things happen. Yes, this is much needed preparation before ministry to others.
Then……
Broken lives are mended, healings occur, and even the dead come to life! Does anyone need to be revived? Has your relationship gone stale? Is your first love long forgotten? If so, how can anyone of us love others like Messiah and help others if we need revival ourselves?
In my humble opinion, this movie has come out JUST IN TIME! Hard times are here and we need to know how to get through them. Get the movie and get some tissues, please.
Thanks for the comment Irene. Deep communication before springing into action is definitely essential for us to love people the way Jesus did. It sounds like “I am Gabriel” illustrates that — I’ll have to check it out.
Great perspective on Mark 1 35-39. Be blessed today and thanks for your hospitality and conversation this past week Kurt & give our regards to Kathy.
Thank you for your comment Mike. Kathy and I enjoyed our visit. God’s richest blessings on you my brother.
Thank you for this sobering ,and very searching message.Yes,”My God is where I invest myself.”May God draw us unto himself,and open our hearts,eyes,minds,and all our senses so that we can love Him truly,and faithfully,and then come to sense the difference in our lives.
Amen Nevine! The way the temporal creeps in and pushes out the eternal can be so subtle. May God draw us unto Himself.