Get away with jesus

Mark 6:30–33 (NLT)

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand

³⁰ The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. ³¹ Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. 

³² So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. ³³ But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them.

Life can get crowded. I love people, ministry, work, and my family. As an extrovert, I draw energy from being around people. And if I am not careful, I can get burnt out even when ministry is going well. It is vital to get time to get away with Jesus. Now, I have heard that and preached it on several occasions. But sometimes, I feel guilt when I get away from it all. I think that is because I am a people pleaser and concern myself with other people’s thoughts. And sometimes, I project those thoughts on God. I wrongly tell myself I must keep pushing and giving it my all.

I misquote Romans 12:1 to myself. “I need to offer myself as a sacrifice.” The verse says, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” Romans 12:1 NLT We should offer ourselves to Jesus as a living sacrifice, not one that is beaten up, worn out, cranky, or bitter. This reasonable worship calls us to get alone and rest with Jesus.

It was Jesus’ idea! He suggested that his followers, who had returned from their first ministry trip, get away with him and rest. What does it mean to get away with Jesus? Prayer and reading the Gospels, in particular, are essential parts of this. In this season, I am concentrating my Bible reading on the gospels. I am refocusing my thoughts and attention on Jesus. For this season, I am most interested in what Jesus said and did. I can get consumed with what others say, think about Jesus, and miss out on the wonder of who Jesus is.

Beyond reading the gospels and praying, I enjoy moments when Jesus calls me to get away with him. My wife Margot, a high school teacher, was on spring break this week. Our life routine is a little crazy. Our home is in Lakeland, FL, and I pastor in Southwest Ranches, 3 1/2 hours away. We live in a 5th wheel while we are in SoFlo. So here is how it works. On Mondays and Tuesdays, we are both in Lakeland; Margot teaches, and I take Monday off and work remotely on Tuesday. Wednesday morning, I drive to SoFlo and stay until Sunday after church. Margot drives to SoFlo either on Friday after school or Saturday. I know it sounds crazy, but this way, we get to be near our grandkids, Dylan and baby Margot or GoGo. And we get to minister and do life with the wonderful people of New Hope Church.

This week, I had the opportunity to get away with Margot. We didn’t go anywhere, but we stayed together last weekend in SoFLo and all week in Lakeland. We drove together to SoFlo the previous evening. The week was even better because I answered Jesus’ call to get away with him, just to talk and notice the beauty surrounding me. It is one thing to do life and quite another to truly live. Sometimes, we can do life with Jesus but not really come alive with Jesus. Beyond the great spiritual disciplines is a life shared in simple conversation with Jesus.

I encourage you to get away with Jesus. Life and ministry look different for everyone, but each of us is called to offer ourselves as a sacrifice that is alive and holy. Holy means we are set apart to God, set apart with Jesus.