S – Scripture
Acts 27:18 (NASB)
The next day as we were being violently storm-tossed, they began to jettison the cargo;
O – Observation
The Apostle Paul was on a boat headed for Rome. Before they set sail, the Lord gave Paul a ‘word of knowledge’ – encouraging them not to set sail. But neither the sea-captain, nor the Centurion paid any attention to Paul’s words. So they set sail with a fully loaded boat, and 276 passengers. As they began to sail a Northeastern storm rose up and threatened to destroy them and their ship. The men did their best to try to sail around or through the storm, but the more they struggled, the worse thing became. Finally, after all their efforts had failed, they began to jettison all their cargo. They threw over-board everything that they could get their hands on in a vain effort to save the ship. Finally they ended up tossing the grain overboard and cut the anchors, allowing the storm to drive them towards land.
A – Application
It’s amazing how precious the possessions of this world appear when life is well. Things in life seem to have so much allure when a person is young and healthy. Life seems like it is ours for the taking, and so many people (even Christians) can become consumed with personal wealth and material possessions. It’s funny how our values change when our health fails, our marriage is in trouble, or our family falls apart. At the end of a man’s life, nothing he has accumulated will ever bring him comfort. When times are hard, that’s when you find out where true value belongs.
P – Prayer
Father, today remind me of the true values in life! Help me to jettison everything out of my life that will not benefit me throughout eternity: relationships, possessions and activities. Thank You that You have already empowered me to jettison from my life, everything that is not the ‘best’ – things that simply take my time, money and energy and have no eternal benefit. I surrender my ‘ship’ to Your spring cleaning. Help me to be open to all that You would desire to jettison from my life! Amen.
“Drawing Away” (Daily Devotions 2.22.11)
by Pastor Pete • on 6:58 PM • in 320, Job Commentary Notes
S – Scripture
Mark 1:35-38 (NASB)
In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. 36 Simon and his companions searched for Him; 37 they found Him, and said* to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” 38 He said* to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.”
O – Observation
Jesus was no man pleaser. Even though He came with the specific mission to die on the cross of Calvary for the souls of men, His goal was never to ‘live to fulfill the will of His followers.’ When the disciples got up one morning, Jesus was gone – no note, no explanation, He had simply left them to seek strength from His Heavenly Father in prayer. Prayer is the key to personal power and the ability to stay focused on ‘God’s calling’. Even Jesus who was fully God, needed that daily intimate time of prayer. When the disciples found Christ, they said “everyone is looking for You.” Sort of sounds like a guilt trip by the disciples and a vain effort to get Christ to worry about what man thinks – “You need to be more concerned about being there for people than wasting your time in prayer and doing the will of Him who sent You.” Very much the same priority that Martha had verses her sister Mary – Working for God is more important that your personal walk with Him. Jesus didn’t answer them. Jesus wasn’t in the least bit concerned about what they or anyone thought of Him. His objective was not to impress them so that they’d follow Him. His goal wasn’t popularity, it was simply to focus on the task that His Father had given Him. Jesus also needed to take care of His own spiritual walk and relation with His Father. Nothing in life was more important to Him than His relationship with His Father. Jesus did not surrender to the fear of man, He simply told His disciples “let’s go somewhere else”. He left the people who were wanting His time and attention and He just moved on – that’s what ultimately led to His ability to say ”It is finished” while hanging on the cross of Calvary. He didn’t come to ‘do everything’, He just came to fulfill the will of His Father upon His life. That was success. His job was not to impress or even meet the needs of man, it was to glorify His Father.
A – Application
Jesus today, You are my mentor! I want to be more like You and walk in the fear of God alone. My biggest struggle as a pastor is to daily wrestle over the fear and personal goals of man. I must be given exclusively to what God has called me to do. Man has not called me to preach, it is not man who I live for, and it will not be a man (any church member) who I will one day stand before at the Bema Seat and give an account of my life to. My goal and my objective today is to be fully given to a love relationship with my Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ my Lord. My focus today must not be upon the demands of men or what people think that I should be doing with my limited time as a Pastor. My calling is to be given to prayer and the Word of God, and then ‘let the chips fall where they may.” If people are offended by my unavailability, so be it – even Jesus wasn’t always available. I must focus on being available to God and doing the work of the ministry that Christ has set me apart to.
P – Prayer
Jesus, make me more like You. Help me to see today what priorities that You have given me. Thank You that Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light. Thank You that You have not called me to produce fruit, but simply to abide in the vine. And as I abide in You, I will think with Your mind, seek to accomplish Your plans and dwell in Your peace. Today I pray that I would be given to prayer and to the ministry of Your Word. Guard my mind from the fear of man, and the modern form of what America has made the church: programs, business meetings and committee meetings. Set my heart upon the work that You alone have given me. May the work of the ministry never come between me and my walk with You and may it always be a joy to serve You. I pray that You will always be #1 in my life, not ministry, not people, not anything but just You Lord. Teach me to walk and live in the fear of the Lord, and then I will not become fearful of the words of man. Thank You for my calling as a Pastor, may I glorify You today in all that I do as I live for You. Amen.