August 24
People pleasers?
Those who were with Him searched for Him. When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You." Mark 1:36-37 (NKJV)
Jesus' popularity was on the rise. He had just performed a multitude of miracles including healing the sick and demon-possessed. As news leaked out, more and more people came to Jesus…people with expectations that He would help them the same way He had helped others.
One morning, while Jesus was alone praying, His disciples came to Him. "Umm, Jesus? Sorry to interrupt, but in case you hadn't noticed, there are a lot of people who want to get an appointment with You. Don't you think it's time to wrap up your prayer time and come take care of them?"
At this point we need to ask ourselves how we would have responded. A throng of people were waiting, expecting a miracle. Most of us would have dropped what we were doing and rushed off to meet those expectations. After all, we wouldn't want to let anyone down or disappoint our newly acquired followers, would we? That's why Jesus' response is all the more amazing:
But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth." Mark 1:38 (NKJV)
Instead of staying put and taking care of the people who had come to Him, Jesus went out into other areas to share the message of God's Kingdom. In doing so, He undoubtedly disappointed a lot of people. But Jesus understood what He was supposed to do (remember He had just been in prayer), and was devoted to that—not doing what others expected of Him.
The lesson to be learned is this: We need to be motivated by what we know God is calling us to do and not by what other people are expecting us to do. We can't be people-pleasers at the expense of neglecting God's will for our lives. God's will is always the right step for us to take, even if it doesn't please everyone.
Think About It…
What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?
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