Doing by sitting.

A thought struck me recently. I searched through my Bible concordance, looking for the instances in which it is recorded that Jesus ran. Anywhere. Guess what? There is no recorded instance of Jesus ever running. He walked everywhere, and it seems He was never in a hurry.

Others ran to meet Him. Some ran to see the empty tomb. But Jesus never hurried. I imagine He was always measured in His ministry, deliberate in His actions and purposeful in his travels throughout Judea. There is a lesson in this for us.

So often the ministry becomes a grand prix. Whoever completes the most laps at the fastest pace wins. Our western civilization has become so fast, that anyone who dares slow down and consider their way is judged either incompetent, lazy or worse.

I often use this statement: "Frenzied activity is no gauge of spirituality."

I wonder how many times we have spent a day at full pace, only to forget about God and how He fits into things? Jesus is to be first, last and all. It takes time to know God.

How should we then live?

"Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame." (1 Corinthians 15:34)

How do we gain the knowledge of God so that we may live righteously?

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (2 Timothy 3:16)

There is a time and a place for work. Work is very important. Schedule is important. Productivity is important. Pastors need to be effective in the ministry. However, all of these are secondary to knowing God, through prayer and the Word. In fact, they can ONLY be accomplished by knowing God and His will.

How many times have we heard a sermon and thought: "That was a re-hash of another sermon I have previously heard", or, "There wasn't much preparation put into that!" I would venture to say that there was too much on the plate of that preacher. There is NEVER an excuse to say, "Sorry folks, but I didn't have time this week; it's a re-heated sermon this morning!"

We must spend much time WITH God to be of much use FOR God.

Meditation, as a discipline of the Christian life, is almost extinct. When is the last time you sat down on the front verandah, or anywhere quiet, Bible in hand, and just thought about what you had read that morning? The Psalmist spent much time doing just thinking.

To quote (approximately) one famous pastor:

"The difference between a successful and a floundering preacher is disciplined thinking."

God gave clear instructions to Joshua, heir apparent to the great Moses:

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." (Joshua 1:8)

More and more I am thinking about Jesus and how He lived. He never rushed. He rose early to spend time with His Father. He targeted key individuals. His recorded sermons and prayers were, for the most part, short. He said what was needed and no more. He was compassionate. He worked hard and gave of himself. He slept when He needed to. He rested when He needed to. He ate with sinners. He deprived Himself of luxury. What an incredible short life!

We could do worse than "looking unto Jesus", our Captain, our Author, our Saviour.