by Lenae, GEMS Training Manager
THINK
ABOUT INTERRUPTIONS
Teach us to number our days aright, that
we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12
What best describes your personality?
a.
Go with the flow. Life is an
adventure; I thoughtlessly roll wherever it takes me.
b.
Highly structured. You can
set your watch by my habits and routine.
c.
Interruptible. I have a plan
for the day, but if I experience divine appointments, I adjust my day and
follow His leading.
There are our natural tendencies to the
way we think through our days and respond to the unexpected and then there’s
God’s way, so beautifully and rightly demonstrated in Jesus’ example.
From a human perspective, Jesus was interrupted
often, especially at mealtime. In Mark 3 when Jesus and His disciples entered a
home, a loud crowd gathered and they were
not even able to eat (Mark 3:20). His family heard about what must’ve
become a regular pattern to His days, and they were concerned. They wanted to
take charge of Him, and said, “He is out
of his mind” (Mark 3:21).
Jesus didn’t share their mindset. He saw
individuals, not interruptions. He understood that God’s divine appointments
must trump lists and lunch plans. He called the people to Himself and spoke to
them (Mark 3:23).
On a different occasion, The apostles gathered around Jesus and
reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were
coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them,
“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark
6:30-31).
Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Can you
almost feel your muscles relax as you think of climbing into a boat with Jesus
for some peace? “Finally!” you think.
“It’s about time I get some me time!” You’ve
worked hard, you reported to Jesus all that you accomplished, and you’re eager
for some needed R&R. But when your boat docks you discover that the crowds
have moved into your space and schedule. From a human perspective, it looks
like an interruption. Through Jesus’ eyes, it’s a divine appointment. He sees
people who are like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus had compassion on them,
taught them, and at the end of the day, rather then sending them home hungry,
He fed all 5,000 with five loaves and two fish (Mark 6:32-42).
No matter what our personality, God wants
our thoughts about our time and to-do lists to walk in step with the Spirit
instead of our rigid thinking about personal time entitlement.
Think
on it: What right
thinking thoughts can you choose when “interruptions” come your way today?
To
paraphrase C. S. Lewis, there is not a square inch of our lives that is not
claimed by God and counterclaimed by ourselves. If we believe God is sovereign,
however, we will see all of life as mission and be led to submit the square
inches we otherwise hold so tightly to the Maker of inches and hands.
Jared Wilson
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