And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
- Matthew 14:23
While enjoying a rare time of complete privacy, it occurred to me how valuable such time is and how unwise it is that we spend so little time alone. We might think it a terrible waste of time for the Lord to be totally separated from all company. We tend to think the Lord’s every moment would be better spent in teaching or healing; and surely if any man should ever live without time to himself, it would be our Savior.
Perhaps we consider our time wasted if we are not engaged in some activities which promote something to our profit or entertainment. We live life in the fast lane; after all it’s the 21st century. We justify ourselves by thinking we don’t have time to think slowly and methodically.
Thousands of decisions are made every day, and sadly most of them are made without any thought. It is impossible to give due consideration to anything without this precious alone time. Peter committed a grave error of which he considered himself incapable, and it was not until he thought thereon that he saw his deeds in their true perspective and wept – Mark 14:72.
King David said I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies – Psalms 119:59. How different things would be if we took time alone for prayerful thought as Jesus did. Our Lord was not a hermit and neither are His people. He went about everywhere doing good – Matthew 4:23, and tirelessly conducted His Father’s business saying, I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work – John 9:4.
We also have business to attend to, but how we ought to prize, as He did, the opportunity to commune with our Father in heaven. We enjoy worshiping publicly, but more private worship would greatly improve our public worship. It was when Jacob was left alone, Genesis 34:24 that he met the Son of God and was never the same again.
We hear of the precious Lord Jesus Christ who shed His priceless blood to wash us from our sins, yet how seldom do we quietly meditate upon His Person and grace without distraction or interruption and sweetly commune with Him? Surely He is worthy of our alone time, and we are our own enemy if we neglect the thing that will enrich all other hours.
Post Author: John J. Bagby, Sr.
Tags: Accountibility, Baptists, Beliefs, Bible, Christianity, Church Growth, Church Planters, Doctrine, Eternal Life, Expository Preaching, Faith, Family, Family Values, God, Godly Faithfulness, Landmark Baptists, Godly Responsibility, God’s Word, Pastors, Pastor’s Wives, Preachers, Religion, Scripture, Separation, The Cross, The Cross of Christ, Theology, Worship
The Amplified renders Ephesians 4:16 “ For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part (with power adapted to its need) is working properly (in all its functions), grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.
As the people of God, we are obligated to grow spiritually, 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. Paul condemned the church in Corinth because they had failed to move toward maturity in the faith, 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? The Hebrew Christians were also chastised for not growing spiritually in the knowledge of God. Hebrews 5:12-14. God is displeased if we as His children are not growing into mature people by developing ourselves into the mind of Christ.
Let us identify some marks of spiritual maturity:
The ability to control anger and settle differences without violence or destruction, Philippians 4:1-7
The willingness to miss immediate pleasure in favor of long-term gain, Hebrews 11:24-26
The ability to continue in a task or a situation in spite of heavy opposition and discouraged setbacks, 1 Corinthians 15:58
The capacity to face unpleasantness and frustration discomfort and defeat, complaint or collapse, Galatians 6:9, I Corinthians 15:58
Being big enough to say, “I was wrong.” And when in the right, the spiritually mature person does not need the satisfaction of saying, “I told you so.” Luke 15:11-32
Possessing the ability to make a decision and complete it. The immature spend their lives exploring endless possibilities and then do nothing, Matthew 25:24-30; James 1:22-25
Are we maturing in our walk as the people of God? Do the above statements describe us?
Philippians 2:5 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”
Post Author: John J. Bagby, Sr.