THINK ABOUT INTERRUPTIONS
Teach us to
number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12
What
best describes your personality?
a. Go with the flow. Life is
an adventure; I thoughtlessly roll wherever it takes me.
b. Highly structured. You
can set your watch by my habits and routine.
c. Interruptible. I have a
plan for the day, but if I experience divine appointments, I adjust my day and
follow His leading.
There
are our natural tendencies to the way we think through our days and respond to
the unexpected and then there’s God’s way, so beautifully and rightly
demonstrated in Jesus’ example.
From
a human perspective, Jesus was interrupted often, especially at mealtime. In
Mark 3 when Jesus and His disciples entered a home, a loud crowd gathered and
they were not even able to eat (Mark
3:20). His family heard about what must’ve become a regular pattern to His
days, and they were concerned. They wanted to take charge of Him, and said, “He is out of his mind” (Mark 3:21).
Jesus
didn’t share their mindset. He saw individuals, not interruptions. He
understood that God’s divine appointments must trump lists and lunch plans. He
called the people to Himself and spoke to them (Mark 3:23).
On
a different occasion, The apostles
gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then,
because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a
chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place
and get some rest” (Mark 6:30-31).
Sounds
wonderful, doesn’t it? Can you almost feel your muscles relax as you think of
climbing into a boat with Jesus for some peace? “Finally!” you think. “It’s
about time I get some me time!” You’ve worked hard, you reported to Jesus
all that you accomplished, and you’re eager for some needed R&R. But when
your boat docks you discover that the crowds have moved into your space and
schedule. From a human perspective, it looks like an interruption. Through
Jesus’ eyes, it’s a divine appointment. He sees people who are like sheep
without a shepherd. Jesus had compassion on them, taught them, and at the end
of the day, rather then sending them home hungry, He fed all 5,000 with five loaves
and two fish (Mark 6:32-42).
No
matter what our personality, God wants our thoughts about our time and to-do
lists to walk in step with the Spirit instead of our rigid thinking about
personal time entitlement.
Think on it: What right thinking
thoughts can you choose when “interruptions” come your way today?
To paraphrase C. S. Lewis, there is not a square inch of our lives that
is not claimed by God and counterclaimed by ourselves. If we believe God is
sovereign, however, we will see all of life as mission and be led to submit the
square inches we otherwise hold so tightly to the Maker of inches and hands.
Jared Wilson
grace and peace,
Lenae
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