Star Power

“Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
Luke 5:15-16

Jesus reached, in modern terms, superstar status not long after his public ministry began. Crowds followed him everywhere he went, even when he would have preferred his privacy like when he learned of John the Baptist’s death (Matthew 14:13). Yet he always had compassion on the crowds clamoring after him and he took the time to teach them, heal them and at least twice made sure they all had something to eat. We only read about Jesus actually sleeping on one occasion and then his friends woke him up to handle a crisis. How did he keep going? How did he find the strength to have compassion for all the people pressing him to do something for them? How did he get the power needed to drive out evil spirits? 

The answer is found in the second verse of this week’s passage, “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Jesus modeled the practice of solitude and prayer for his disciples, sometimes he took them with him to solitary places. It was in the quiet aloneness of these places that he spoke honestly with his Father and where he listened attentively to everything his Father had to say. In those quiet times of solitude and deep prayer he found rest and received the strength and power he needed to calm storms, heal the sick, drive out evil spirits and have compassion on the never ending crowds following him around.

We may not be followed around by hoards of people, clamoring for our attention but we are stars in our own right because of who He has made us to be. We are busy people who need to find the strength and power to have compassion on those around us, to care for those who are hurting, to encourage those who are discouraged. How do we do that? We follow the example set for us by Jesus.

As we continue our preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ glorious resurrection, I want to challenge you to withdraw to a lonely place this week and have a two way conversation with Him, He’s waiting for you. Speak honestly with Him and then listen, really listen to everything He has to say to you. You’ll come away with a fresh perspective, a refreshed spirit and all the strength and power you need to do what He has called you to do. We get our star power, from the creator of the stars - Jesus.

A Prayer
Father - Thank you for calling us into lonely places so we can spend time along with You. Help us to speak honestly with you and then to listen fully to what you have to say. Grant us all that we need to live out our faith in the world around us. In the name of Jesus in whom we find our star power, Amen.