My own version of Mark 6

Each morning I read a devotional.  Sometimes they inspire me to write, sometimes they don’t.  Today, the Bible verses did.

Here is a run down of Mark 6: 30-52:

After working hard and not having an opportunity to eat, Jesus and his disciples go on a boat ride to cross to get some much needed rest.  Upon landing, the disciples went off somewhere and Jesus stayed to teach as he noticed all of the people following him. When the disciples got back, they tell Jesus the people should be sent away so that they may find food in the nearby villages.  Jesus, in his to the point fashion, tells the disciples to feed them. Of course, they countered with the reality that it would cost over eight months of a man’s wages to feed all 5000 men not counting women and children. (Mary’s side note: I think they had the money as the disciples didn’t say they didn’t).  Jesus asked the disciples how much food they did have. Just a measly five loaves of bread and two fish. No where near enough to feed that many people. So Jesus did what he does and gave thanks for what they had. In faith, he had the people sit in groups, divided the food up to the disciples and they passed it around until everyone ate their full.

Pretty awesome right?  But the story doesn’t end there.

Jesus dismissed the crowd and told the disciples to get back in the boats to cross the water while he went up to the mountains to pray.  Jesus worked hard and needed to rest himself. But before he did, he ensured that everyone was taken care of first.

As his disciples were trying to fight the winds on the water, Jesus calmly walks out to them… on the water.  Needless to say, they got scared, terrified, infact as they thought they were seeing a ghost. However, Jesus simply tells them to “take courage” becuase it is really him.  Then he climbs into the boat with them and all the wind calms down. The disciples are amazed as even though they were a part of feeding thousands of people with so little food, they still did not understand that Jesus is the son of God and sadly, their hearts were hardened a bit more as they were unable to transfer the truth that if God can feed all of those people, if His son can walk on water and calm the storms, then he certainly can work miracles in our own lives.

Mary's side notes:

My devo was focusing on the importance of rest from verses 30-31. But as I continued to read, I noticed that Jesus didn't rest himself until he had taken care of the followers, then he rested. He did, however, have his disciples take a break while he stayed back and worked. To me, that is a great leader. Leaders take care of their people so that their work can get done more efficiently. Leaders also know when they need to a break and when to get back to work when all chaos breaks out (like the winds on the water).

It can be so easy to get caught in tasks. To not take time to care for yourself so you can care for others better. That is one reason I exercise at least four days a week and spend time with God every single morning. It my time to put me first before the day begins for everyone else as I know that when it does, I will have a very difficult time putting time aside for me.

How do you set time aside for yourself? Where might you need more help in trusting God in the storms? Pray about it with me.

Papa God, Thank you for today. For this breath you have given to me. For all the chaos around me so that the quiet moments seem more precious than ever. May you guide me how to be a leader like you. May you show me when it is time to work and when it is time to rest. May my heart and my actions trust in you through every decision, big and small. Through every act. Every thought, even. May my life be a true reflection of you. In your precious name. Amen y men