Written by Katie Tuesday, 14 July 2009 15:09

Reading through the gospels I’ve noticed something about Jesus- and when He prayed. On many occasions it was after He’d spent the day with a lot of people. He would leave to go up into a mountain to pray, alone, usually all through the evening till the morning. And I suppose what struck me was that it was almost always to get away from the crowds surrounding Him. Jesus was popular. He healed people. He was knowledgeable and He taught and preached. He performed amazing miracles. People wanted to be around him. And yet, He never stayed long. He always left to go and talk to His Father.

“But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.” Luke 5:15-16

What usually happens when we do something really good? Maybe you’re talented or have done something worthy of praise…perhaps just while we’re serving Christ in some way. And people notice. They tell you how awesome you are! And consequently, it makes you feel just as amazing inside. This happened to Jesus countless times. And of course Jesus doesn’t get a big head, because He’s Jesus, and He’s perfect, but He provides us with an example here. Look in John 6:15:

“When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.” John 6:15

They wanted to make Him a king! I imagine if I was wanted to be a queen, or a princess, I’d be running toward that crown full speed! But Jesus stopped. He left everything, and went to talk alone with His God. His King.

So where does popularity get one in God’s kingdom? Paul says,

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” Philippians 3:7-10

Anything good you do, anything others make you feel good about, is nothing compared to what Christ has done. Anything we do for God’s glory, Paul describes as ‘dung’. But yet we still do things for Him. Why? Because of verse 10: that we may win victories for His Glory and be found in Him. We do it to get closer to Him. We want to be associated with this great God. But we have to remember it’s not about us.

And that leads us back to Jesus! He didn’t stick around and revel in His glory. No! He left all, and went up alone that He might know His Father!

“That I may know Him!”

How are we in our prayer life? Do we only run to the Rock when the storms come? Or do we stop, and make time to simply talk to Him? Not only on a daily basis, but how about when our egos are up? When everything in our life is running just spiffy and we’re on a roll?

Just stop.

Forget everything, and go find yourself a mountain.

 

Have a happy Tuesday! ;D

-Katie

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