September 11, 2014

“You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, 

because my time has not yet fully come.” (John 7:8 NIV)

We fly through our weeks at an Internet-access, call-me-on-my-cell pace, with barely enough time to breathe between the persistent beeps coming from the PDA.Even in the church, we over-schedule meetings, ministry, and meals. In our efforts to become like Jesus, we’re developing a very un-Jesus-like characteristic: busyness!

You never think of Jesus as a hurried person. He never seemed stressed over getting more things done. Can you hear the efficiency experts? “Jesus, you’d get a lot more done if you had more assistants than just the 12.”“You really need to attend that council meeting in Capernaum if you want to make headway with the Pharisees!” “Why are you still here in Galilee? Your ministry would be so much bigger if you’d move to Jerusalem. Such talent going to waste!”

Jesus’ brothers said, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea . . . . No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world” (John 7:3-4 NIV). Jesus simply told them the timing wasn’t right because he was on the father’s timetable. Now, as it was, Jesus followed almost immediately on the heels of his brothers. But he did it low-key, because he did not want to be swept into events that might distract him from his purpose or that might push him off God’s timetable. Time after time, as Jesus walks through the gospels, we hear him referring to the Father’s will. He knew he’d been sent by God for a purpose, and he stuck to that purpose.

What’s the best way to manage your time? Figure out who God created you to be and what he created you to do, and then resolutely set out to accomplish God’s purpose (Luke 9:51)