◄ What Does Mark 6:30 Mean? ►

What a touching scene we have here. Jesus had sent His twelve apostles out with a special commission to preach repentance to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and had given them apostolic authority and divine ability to: "Drive out many demons, anoint many sick people with oil, and heal them."

The apostles were no doubt flushed with excitement at the success of their ministry and weary from their exhausting schedule and: "They gathered around Jesus and told Him everything they had done and taught." What a picture of so many Christians and ministries today! Working hard for the Lord, obeying His call on their life, exhilarated at all that God is carrying out in their ministry and eager to share their stories. And yet we read in the next verse: "There was so much coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat." The disciples were in danger of 'ministry burnout' which is an all too common occurrence in Christians today. There is indeed a time to work, but as Jesus reminded His disciples, there is also a time to rest: "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while."

Should not all who are earnestly carrying out the special little ministry that God has purposed for them, be watchful to gather around the Lord Jesus and to sit at His feet daily. And individually, should we not come aside from the rush of daily life by ourselves, to be with Jesus? And as we sit at His feet, should we not tell Him of all that we have done and taught, of the victories and accomplishments, of the failures and heartaches? And should we not be careful to rest in Him, draw our strength from Him alone, and to drink from His overflowing fountain of life?

His grace is abundantly sufficient for all our needs, but it is only as we depend on Him that we discover the abundance of His overflowing supply in all we do.

Thank You, Father, for the work that You have purposed to do through me. Help me to grow ever closer to Jesus, day by day, and draw on all His abundant supply, moment by moment. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.