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)