Every driver is probably familiar with this situation: You’re on the road, and at some point, you start doing the math: How far will my tank of gas last? How many kilometers can I still manage with my batteries? Is it time to fill up, or can I still go further? Gas stations… we would probably like to do without them, but at the same time we are glad that they exist. Gas stations demand a sacrifice from us – not only in terms of time, but above all, financially. At the same time, we know that without this “sacrifice,” we can’t go on. If we ignore gas stations consistently and permanently, it will only lead to problems in the end.
This simple, everyday occurrence is also reflected in a similar way in our lives. We need times when we can recharge our batteries. We sometimes do this quite unconsciously. We go to bed every night and get up in the morning feeling refreshed at best. Have you ever thought about how wonderfully our Creator made us? We regenerate in our sleep!
If you work a typical job, then you know about the blessing of vacation days. You are legally entitled to them. God Himself said He rested from His work after the sixth day of creation. We still benefit from this today: We are to work six days and do no work on the seventh, for it is the Lord’s Day (Exodus 20:9-11)! The Bible shows us that these times of rest are not only important for our bodies but also for our souls.
Before you read further, I ask you to read the following Bible passage in Mark 6:30-47. Here we get an insight into a day that Jesus experienced on Earth. The account concludes with Jesus urging the disciples to get into the boat late in the evening and travel to the other shore. But He wanted to stay behind alone (see also Matthew 14:22-23). It is striking that both Matthew and Mark emphasize that Jesus urged the disciples and urged them to hurry. Why? Jesus was on His feet all day; He preached, healed sick people, performed the miracle of the feeding of the 5000…. This sapped His strength, and after this full day, Jesus wanted time alone. In any case, the day seems to have turned out differently than initially planned. Jesus invited His disciples, who had returned from a missionary assignment, to take a little time out. However, their plans were thwarted by the crowd. It is remarkable that Jesus took care of these people. He did not put His and the disciples’ needs above the needs of these people who had followed Him in search. However, once Jesus had ministered to them, He did not simply accept the circumstances and postpone the desired time of fellowship with God, but rather gave this need the highest priority.
If we look a little closer, we understand all the better why Jesus longed so much for fellowship with the Father. Many events converged at this point in time. The account took place in the third year of His public ministry. It was the year of resistance and therefore the most challenging. His message was not accepted in some towns in Galilee (Chorazin, Capernaum), and there were repeated arguments with the Pharisees, who blasphemed Him. Despite everything, Jesus faithfully fulfilled His ministry; He preached, He healed, He helped where He could. His message was not accepted in Nazareth. He was not believed and could only do a few deeds there. And then there was the news of John the Baptist, who had been executed. Jesus was in deep mourning for him and saw his personal suffering and death clearly set before His eyes. As if all this were not enough, He also had to endure temptations, because some of the people wanted to make Him king after the miracle of the feeding (John 6:14-15) – a crown without a cross; was this not precisely the devil’s temptation in the desert?
Can we understand why Jesus longed for fellowship with the Father? Certainly, none of us experience what Jesus experienced. But aren’t there one or two situations in our lives too? Are there times when you don’t see success? People turn away from you? You can’t see the end because of all the tasks? Worries about the future weigh you down? The devil approaches you with temptations? Times when you feel and are exhausted? Of course, we all experience times like these! The question is: How do we deal with them?
Let us learn from Jesus. Jesus did not seek His rest in idleness, because this may be a rest for the body in certain respects – but not for the soul and spirit. On the contrary: It is not said for nothing that idleness is the beginning of all vice. Relaxation for the soul and mind through YouTube, TikTok, Netflix…? Not at all, because they demand our mental attention. Jesus climbed a mountain alone to pray, and here He spoke about all the things that moved Him. His Father will no doubt have answered Him, and it is obvious that this strengthened Him again, because just a few hours later, He performed the next miracles.
Jesus invites us to do the same in Matthew 6:5-6. But it will cost us something too – think of the image with the gas station. However, God does not expect money from us – we can earn NOTHING, but live by His grace. Just as Jesus climbed a mountain alone, we too should seek silence with God. That is often difficult enough in everyday life. However, there are times in life when we cannot put off personal counseling – which is what it means to refuel – any longer. We sometimes have to make sacrifices for it, leave other things undone or put some on the back burner. We have to let go of things that we are currently doing because we need time of communion with God. Matthew 6:33 is also fully valid here! Just like Jesus, you can and should look for a suitable place where you can be undisturbed. Sometimes you have to be creative, don’t you? Yet God will help you to develop this resourcefulness because He also longs for this fellowship with you. He visited Adam and Eve every day in paradise! Every single day. Why? To have fellowship with them.
This time is extremely important for us, and we benefit from it first and foremost. It is a source of new strength for our everyday lives. It strengthens our defenses against the temptations in our lives and keeps us from giving up. This time also prepares us for our personal ministry. In the end, we can only pass on as much as we have received ourselves. Jesus’ example shows that His ministry continued undiminished after this time in prayer and fellowship – with renewed strength. And a third thing is remarkable. This time of refueling opens our eyes to ourselves and to our neighbor. By refueling with HIM, we admit that we can do nothing without HIM. And it really is so. At the same time, we are certainly moved when we read that Jesus, during the time of His fellowship with the Father, saw in the Spirit that His disciples were in need in the boat (Mark 6:48). Could God not also open our eyes to the need of our fellow human beings at such a time?
It is time to refuel. Again and again. Perhaps this vacation time is a good opportunity to start and develop new habits. This is my desire for myself and for all of us.
Niko Ernst
Herford, Germany
Be the first to comment