Today’s Reading: Mark 3:7-30 

Several years ago, on New Year’s Day, a beautiful float in the Tournament of Roses parade suddenly sputtered and quit. It was out of gas. The whole parade was held up until someone could get a can of fuel. The amusing thing was this float represented the Standard Oil Company. With its vast oil resources, its truck was out of fuel.

That truck describes a lot of Christians. They have vast resources in Christ, but more often than not they find themselves “out of fuel.”  How about you? Do you find yourself “out of fuel” these days? Do you find yourself powerless to do what you know God wants you to do?

The word for “called” in Mark 3:13 implies “an urgent invitation to accept responsibilities for a particular task, implying a new relationship to the one who does the calling”. You see, Jesus wants these twelve to be more than just a part of an adoring crowd. He invites them into a special relationship with Himself so that He might send them forth as His special representatives with His words and His power to make a difference in this world.

I don’t know about you, but that’s what I want for my life. I’m not content just to be part of an adoring crowd. I want a special relationship with Christ so that I might represent Him well in a world that so desperately needs Him.  When we respond to His invitation to get close to Him and enjoy a special intimacy with Him that those in the crowd cannot even imagine. That means spending regular, unhurried times in His presence.

In an area of Africa where Christianity has spread quite rapidly, new believers were zealous about their daily devotions. They would find their own spot within the wild thickets and pour their hearts out to God. After some time, the spots became well-worn, and paths were created. Soon, each one’s prayer life was made public. If someone began to neglect his or her devotional life, it would soon be noticed by others. Believers would then gently and lovingly remind those in neglect, “The grass grows on your path.”

Don’t let the grass grow on YOUR path. Get close to Jesus as often and as long as you can. Open His Word, the Bible, so you can listen to His voice. Then talk to Him about the things He puts on your heart. Enjoy regular times with Jesus, so He can begin to make a difference in your life, first, before you try to make a difference in others’ lives.

Reflection

Have you been allowing grass to grow on your path?