40 At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.
42 At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. Luke 4
We saw earlier this week that Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law and then many others came to Him. Early the next morning Jesus withdrew from people, even those closest to Him. The risk for us is that when the Lord uses and blesses us, that we’re happy to go along, ‘under our own steam’. (INDEPENDENCE is the mark of the Old Flesh Man) Jesus didn’t do that, ‘early the next morning He got alone to CHECK IN WITH HEAVEN’. The ever present crowds returned and pressed Him to stay with them, but He knew He had a wider mission.
43 But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” 44 And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea. Luke 4
Jesus Prayer Life modelled the need, ‘FOR US TO DRAW APART AT TIMES’ for the good of our own souls and to get further direction and purpose from Heaven. Jesus left the crowds, perhaps in our day the battle is right in our homes, TV and the Internet are such A DRAW at the present time. What are we as Believers being DRAWN BY, the Lord or the things of this world?
Just a little further on in Luke’s Gospel we see Jesus spending the night alone in prayer.
12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles, Luke 6
This was a momentous time in Jesus’ life and ministry. He spent the whole night in prayer and chose the man who would eventually betray Him and send Him to the cross. Jesus didn’t take the best way for Himself, He submitted to the Father’s will, which was the complete opposite of man’s will. He later rebuked Peter who tried to persuade Him from going through with the cross.
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.’ Matthew 16
Does God have important things He wants to speak into our lives. Perhaps He’s waiting for us to come and enjoy His presence and give us new vision for our future.
24 ‘“‘The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face towards you
and give you peace.’”
27 ‘So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.’ Numbers 6
May you know God’s love and fresh blessing on your life today. Immanuel, the Lord is with us.