Gathered

In church, on the radio, reading a devotional or from friends, we so often are told that God wants to hear from us ~ that we should pray and spend time with Him in our day. Well, I just love this verse I read this morning!

 

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him

all the things they had done and taught.

Mark 6:30 NIV

 

Right here we read, when Jesus was here on earth among us, He listened. They “gathered around” Him and told Him about their day…as if He didn’t already know! ♥

Oh dear Father, how often in Scripture You call out to us! You call us to come to You, to lean on You, to walk with You…it’s what your Word is all about ~ actively pursuing a relationship with You.

But, in our world we get so busy and distracted by the rush that we never stop to hear You in the pause. Sadly, we just do not gather round as a normal practice.

The gift You have given is that, in the space of gathering around You, we pause and “gather” our thoughts ~ You listen and clarify, You dust off the clutter of this world and help us thru each day. The gathering calls us back to You and Your purpose worked out in the day. For all that we may have “done and taught” is only at Your direction and by Your Grace.

 In the verse just after this Jesus responds to them…

“…Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Mark 6:31b

You know we do not walk this life alone, and in the Gathering, You offer each soul rest. Thank You that You sit, You gather us and remind us Who laid the path we are walking.

 

Your Word is a light for my feet, a light on my path.

Psalm 119:105

No Fence

When speaking on a particular subject, or voicing an opinion, people so often times think or say that others are “on the other side of the fence”. We happen to know our friends who live on the other side of the fence and they are fantastic! A gift of friendship we thank God for, always!

So no, I’m not talking about a physical fence, tho’ I guess it could come to that sometimes. I mean the living it out, talking and being together in life and then…wham!...there’s a fence!

As Christians, wouldn’t it be spectacular ~ earth changing ~ if we came to all realize there is no fence! We are one in Christ!

Oh, the chasms of pride and expanses of division that would be filled by Grace. The healing of singleness of purpose, all focused on the path of Jesus ~ of One Stride, One Mind led by One Love …and no fence!

 

Nehemiah 8:12 says…

Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.

Oh, what a picture! “words that had been made known to them”! I think we humans assume our own understanding is all the truth there is. We live and operate from one understanding, one perspective ~ our own.

BUT we learn here, as Ezra read and taught God’s people, understanding was given to them. How often are people galvanized over a phrase and yet have no real “understanding” of the very words they are using. Our hearing of words does not equate to understanding, it is a gift of God. True understanding is a revealing by Him, to our hearts that brings us to where God is ~ to His will in every word, choice and situation. When Ezra read this to the people, it brought weeping and sorrow first ß that “realization” of the distance they were from God and the need for God…and then, in the understanding of life with God, came joy and celebration…and unity.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:1-6

 

Father, the sharing of Your Word and the gift of understanding brings unity to Your people. Our churches have not seemed to have that over the centuries. Not because Your Word is lacking, but perhaps because we “hear” and rely on our own understandings, filter thru our own agendas and do not “listen” and seek after the gift of Your understanding.

For the Joy of the Lord is our strength and in that there is no discord, only celebration of a life lived with You, in You and for Your glory!

 

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

Psalm 133:1