As we continue our "Living the Life" series; a collection of meditations on the example of Jesus Christ and what we can learn from him, I want to direct your attention to a portion of scripture in which we find Jesus dealing with the matter of priorities.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed, "Everyone is looking for you!"

Jesus replied, Let us go somewhere else - to the nearby villages - so I can preach there also. That is why I have come. So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. - Mark 1: 35-39

Did you notice the first five words of our scripture reading? "Very early in the morning..." Obviously, this verse records the beginning of a brand new day in the earthly life of Jesus. However, to fully appreciate the context of the verses just read, it is important to see just what Jesus was doing the previous day. According to earlier verses in the first chapter of Mark, the preceding day had been a full one, to say the least. Consider what the following verses describe:

• Mark 1:21-28 - Jesus ministers at the synagogue of Capernaum and delivers a man who was possessed by a demon.

• Mark 1:29-31 - Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law.

• Mark 1:32-34 - A multitude gathers around Peter's house and Jesus spends the evening ministering healing and deliverance to many needy people.

All this leads us then to v. 35 and those words I pointed out to you, "Very early in the morning..." After a long day that no doubt was physically, emotionally, and spiritually draining, Jesus was up before daylight finding a private place in which to pray.

After such a productive day of ministering to the people, many of us would have chosen to celebrate by sleeping in. Not Jesus! He was up early, praying.

Now, what happens next is, to me, a curious turn of events. The disciples, led by Peter, begin searching for Jesus and when they find him, they tell him - no doubt with great enthusiasm - "Everyone's looking for you!" The implication being, "Last night was awesome! There are more people in need and everyone is excited. Let's have another healing service!"

The deliverance of the demon-possessed man in the Capernaum synagogue had created a great deal of buzz about Jesus (Mark 1:28) and the previous night's activities only increased the anticipation of the people. Instead of what one might have expected him to say, Jesus said, Let us go somewhere else - to the nearby villages - so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.

Let's go somewhere else... And that's exactly what happened. Jesus and the disciples moved on ministering to many others along the way. A curious turn of events.

You may ask, "Just what does all this have to do with the issue of priorities?" I believe it has a great deal to do with that matter. Let me share several lessons to be learned.

• Good priorities are rooted in an understanding of our purpose. Notice again what Jesus said in v. 38, That is why I have come. Jesus understood why he had come to earth. It was not to minister merely in one area. He was to minister across the region, teaching, healing, and helping many people, and then ultimately, he was to go to the cross to make provision for the salvation of mankind.

  Jesus' awareness of his purpose helped to guide his activities. Good priorities are rooted in an understanding of our purpose.

• Good priorities are clarified by spending time in the presence of God. While an understanding of his purpose in coming to earth offered Jesus a general sense of direction in life, we find that he often slipped away to pray. No doubt these times of communion with the Father allowed him to receive specific guidance for daily activities.

  Remember, Jesus, though he was fully God, was also fully human. While here on earth, he voluntarily limited himself by laying aside the independent use of his divine attributes. He did so in order to serve as an example to us. He taught us how to live in dependence upon our Heavenly Father.

• Good priorities are clarified in the place of prayer. Maintaining good priorities requires discipline In order to spend time with the Father. Jesus had to get up early - and that, after a long, tiring day! But not only that - in order to do what God was leading him to do - he had to "disappoint" others. He had to disregard the appeal of his friends. He had to be willing to turn his back on the crowds.

Each one of these lessons we've been considering is important but we need to apply what we learned to our lives. As those who have received Christ as our Savior, we are called not merely to learn from Jesus' example; we are called to follow his example! So let's think about some practical things we can do to apply the truths we're learning to our daily lives.

• We must understand something of the purposes for which we have been created. Rick Warren, in his excellent book The Purpose Driven Life, cites five such purposes which can all be easily substantiated from the scriptures. We have been created to:

  • Worship God

  • Become like Christ in character

  • Fellowship with other believers

  • Minister to the needs of others in the family of faith

  • To share our faith in Christ with others

  These are general purposes, but they do help us to determine the areas to which we ought to devote our time, energy, and resources. (And the first step in pursuing these purposes is to receive Jesus Christ as one's Savor.) However, the specifics how God wants you to pursue these purposes each day will be clarified as we seek God...

• We must spend time with God daily. You say, "But, I'm so busy." My response is, "I know. We're all busy - and Jesus was, too, but he made time to share fellowship with his Father - and we simply must do the same." It's a matter of discipline.

  We are tempted to feel that if only there were 36 hours in a day rather than 24, that then we would have time for everything - including God. But the real issue isn't time. The real issue is a matter of disciplining ourselves to do what is necessary if we are to be learner/followers of Jesus Christ. (By the way, I've noticed that I - and others - always find time and resources to do the things we consider to be truly important and/or desirable.)

• We must act in line with the direction God gives us. What good is it to have a sense of my purpose in life and specific direction as to what I ought to be doing today if I have no intention of following through on any of it? When it comes to priorities, follow through is where "the rubber meets the road."

If you're like me, this week will be a busy one for you. We can run ourselves ragged trying to respond to everything that screams for our attention or we, like Jesus, can understand why we are here, look to God for direction, and just do what he leads us to do - leaving the rest in His hands to be addressed another day. The choice is ours.

Jesus has much to teach us about the matter of priorities and we would do well to follow his example.

Mark is the Pastor of the Evangel Assembly of God located at 1633 Portage Road, Wooster, Ohio, and he would like to extend a cordial invitation for you to join them in worship. If you do not live locally but will be visiting some of the popular attractions in nearby Holmes County, please consider making Evangel one of your stops.

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