Day 12

Lord, help me to give up: 

My insensitivity.

Day 12

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Today’s Reading: Mark 6:30-56

Optional readings: Matthew Ch 14, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:1-24

Feeds 5000, Walks on Water, Miracles

Have you ever come home from work totally exhausted and wanting nothing more than a meal and time to rest, only to have a little one tug on your pant leg asking you to come play? You need the rest and the food, but your kids need you. So you gather up a little more strength and go toss the football, wrestle, or put together that doll house.

Jesus was in His third year of ministry, and He was very well known and sought after at this point. One might say, “He couldn’t get a moment’s peace.” He couldn’t even get a chance to eat or hear from his disciples. So he planned that they go away to a remote place by themselves to have some quiet, talk, eat, and rest.

When my plans are interrupted, especially my plans to recharge my batteries, I get grumpy. All the mental health experts on TikTok tell me that I must set aside “me time” and not let anything interrupt it. That’s Biblical, right?

Well while that may be wise in some instances, it is not what we see Jesus do here. He is interrupted. As a matter of fact, His quiet, quality time with his crew never even got started. The crowds of people saw what he was planning and ran on ahead of him. They were already waiting for Him when He landed. How does He respond? Grumpy exasperation, like me? 

“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things” (Mark 6:34).

His compassion for the people was stronger than His desire for a break. His flock was more important than his immediate plans. It’s like the dad referenced in the first paragraph. God loves His kids, so in human form, he takes a breath and spends time with them, despite His own physical needs. 

At the Renew Women’s Conference several weeks ago, Katie Marsh referenced this same verse, and I love her observation. Jesus saw the people first, then he had compassion on them. 

We cannot participate in a ministry of compassion if we don’t SEE THE PEOPLE. We have to take the time to look around us. And to look around, we have to stop looking down at our phone (again, thank you, Katie Marsh). 

It is a good thing to set aside time to serve others. It is a selfish thing to never have the time to serve others. But I see an in-between, at-all-times thing too. I pray that I am sensitive to the needs around me all the time. 

Compassion isn’t always formal ministry. Sometimes it’s just putting yourself in someone else’s shoes before you form an opinion. Sometimes it’s recognizing that someone else has an immediate need for encouragement or prayer or a hug. 

Sensitivity is being acutely aware of what someone else is experiencing. 

It’s anticipating how my words or actions might affect someone. 

It’s putting people before myself. 

I like to go through a little algorithm when looking at a need.