Living by Listening
Opening Prayer
Lord, as I come to Your Word, I give You my burdens and turn my attention to the God who is peace.
Read LUKE 4:38-44
[38] Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. [39] So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. [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. [41] Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah. [42] At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. [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. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Where did Jesus go to gain strength?There are three temptations which we see Jesus overcoming in this passage, which offer an example for our own lives. First, there is the temptation to reject God-given opportunities because we are tired. Jesus has had a busy day at the synagogue; he could have felt justified in saying that he was too tired to heal anyone else that day. Instead, he heals Simon’s mother-in-law and many others (40).Second, Jesus would probably have enjoyed a rest after such a long and tiring day; but he knows that his true refreshment comes from time spent alone with his Father (42). Rest and relaxing with friends are important, but when our strength is spent, it is time with God that replenishes us. Third, there is the temptation to stay where we are successful. Jesus had had a good day; people were talking about him, telling their friends to go and hear this new preacher, and maybe see some miracles. But the Father tells Jesus to move on and, in obedience, he does. Our lives may look different from Jesus’ life, but we still need to spend time listening to God so that we know when to work or rest, and when to stay or move on.
Apply
Set aside extra time alone with the Father, be it a day retreat, a walk in the woods or another setting.
Closing prayer
Abba, teach me to walk in the kind of intimacy Jesus knew in his relationship with You.
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