Take a few moments to still your heart and mind before reading:
“Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” For even his own brothers did not believe in him. Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil. You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.” After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee.” John 7:3-9 NIV
Devotional
Jesus definitely did not move by anyone else's timetable, pace or agendas. He patiently waited for the nod from his Father, through his teen years and young adulthood. Jesus didn't have a need to be seen, heard or recognized. He was emotionally and spiritually healthy as the Son of Man. He realized that his Father had a timing for his short ministry.
Im reminded of this scripture as I think of waiting on God's timing.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:” Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV
Eugene Peterson, one of my favorite authors, has this advice to offer us on why we hate "slowing down and waiting" when God apparently delights in it:
I am busy because I am vain. I want to appear important. What better way than to be busy? The incredible hours, the crowd at schedule, and the heavy demands of my time are proof to myself into all he will notice-then I am important. If I go into a doctors office and find, there is no one waiting, and I see throw a half open door the doctor reading a book, I wonder if he's any good.
Such experiences affect me. I live in a society in which crowded schedules and harassed conditions are evidence of importance, so I develop a crowded schedule and harassed conditions. When others notice, they acknowledge my significance and my vanity is fed.
I am busy because I am lazy. I let others decide what I will do instead of deciding myself. It was a favorite theme of CS Lewis, that only lazy people work hard. By lazily abdicating the essential work of deciding and directing, establishing values and setting goals, other people do it for us.
Let us take time to consider this....
What one step can you take today to slow down to the speed of now and actively and attentively listen for the voice of Jesus?
Love,
Dana