Community Devotions

Engage & Withdraw

SCRIPTURE

But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray. - Luke 5:15-16

OBSERVATION

A rhythm of engaging and withdrawing--that was the ministry paradigm which Jesus engaged in kingdom mission. Whereas we keep striking while the iron is hot and bulldozing forward when there is fruit, Jesus withdrew. Though he himself was the literal messiah, he did not have a messiah complex. There were families with infirmities, fathers with leprosy, daughters dying but he withdrew to pray. He didn’t see every need presented to him as the will of the Father so he rested. His rhythm was very different from ours. He rested while others worked and worked while others rested. Maybe it’s because this paradigm of engage and withdraw. He didn’t wait till Sabbath to rest but continually found this rhythm of work & respite all throughout the day.

APPLICATION

I need to be courageous with Jesus’ paradigm of withdrawing especially when things are going well and ministry is rockin'. Often times when there’s momentum I ride that sucker till the tires are bald and wheels fall off. Find pockets in the day to withdraw not to be lazy but to pray. Be silent before God and let him speak instead of me talking all the time. Be intentional of resting my anxious thoughts and wandering heart.

PRAYER

Jesus you are the head of the church. You lived in and embodied grace and truth. Please give me the courage to say no ministry needs that I’m not supposed to meet. Guard me from idleness in rest and laziness in respite. Maranatha! I love you.

Charcoal Fire

SCRIPTURE

John 18:18, 25 "18 Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself... 25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.””

OBSERVATION

A charcoal of fire is usually a place where people gather together to stay warm and fellowship. Much like a camp fire it is where friends and family congregate to talk story, laugh and sing kumbaya. But for Peter it was the place where he followed Jesus at a distance and denied his savior three times. The charcoal fire signifying the warmth of friendship and fellowship instead became a painful reminder of disappointment, cowardice, apostasy and failure. Yet the grace of Jesus confronts disappointment and clothes failure. A couple of chapters later in John 21 the resurrected Jesus appears to the disciples and Peter in particular and says this in verse 9, “When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it and bread.” Jesus provides redemption in the place of failure. Jesus initiated the restoration of relationship and freely offered undeserving grace. 

APPLICATION

A couple of months ago I drove to a preaching engagement in West Covina and drove by my old high school in Baldwin Park, CA. As I drove past my old stomping ground, memories of my foolishness, disobedience and rebellion against God started to flood my conscience. I was about to preach the good news of Jesus to a church yet I began feeling guilty and condemned by my past. It was then that I was convinced that the gospel is exactly that—good news! Jesus in his grace saved me from my old life, bore God’s wrath on the cross in my stead and was resurrected to give me freedom so that I am a new person. When I sin be reminded of the good news of charcoal fire. Jesus provided the fish, bread and fire to restore me. 

PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your undeserving grace. Somehow I tend to wander away from the cross and depend on my restitution for righteousness instead of standing firm in the gospel, believing in Christ’ righteousness and repenting. Please forgive me. Would you remind me of the fellowship and grace in the charcoal fir? I love you so much! Maranatha!