Time is a non-replenishing
resource. We get the same amount everyday, but, we don't get to "roll
over" minutes to the next day. Making the most of each day is a constant
effort. We are going to have the same amount of time this week, but, the
holiday gives us less for the "everyday" stuff. I believe this gives us
an opportunity to reflect on the time we give to prayer.
You may be thinking,
"Just what I need another thing to add to my already overloaded
day." Jesus addressed our
overloaded day in Matthew 11:28-30:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am
gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my
yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
To understand the power of
this promise a little background is needed.
Following the delivery of the
Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) Jesus went on a whirlwind tour healing,
challenging and teaching (Matthew 8-9) which left him exhausted and pleading
with his followers to pray for more workers in the harvest field. Right after
this in chapter ten he sent out the twelve two by two to do what he had been
doing, "declaring the coming of the kingdom." So we get to chapter 11
and we find him addressing key issues (is he really the messiah and how was his
people to be led by such men as the pharisees). That led him to our text above.
So, here is my take on what he was trying to say.
After the prayer for workers
he sent the apostles out to be workers. On their return they had a much better
idea of the everyday, one on one ministry needed to do the work of evangels so
when he then addressed the bigger issues of messiahship and leadership change
needed for the success of the evangels they must have paused and thought,
"What a minute, this is much bigger than I originally thought." This
wasn't about being the faithful followers of a Rabbi but being the hands and
feet of the Rabbi. This was not about knowledge but about action. They must
have been tired - maybe as tired as Jesus when he sent them out and so Jesus
meets them where they are. "Learn of me." He did not say learn of my
ministry but learn of me.
Today the path to learning of
Jesus is found in our Bible reading and prayer life. The Sunday experience and
the Growth Groups embed it - but if we are not constantly in prayer and
meditation then the work of evangelism seems to add just one more item to our
already filled to-do list. But when we spend time with God he makes is possible
for us to do what we have to do so we will have the time and energy to do what
we must do. Tell others about Jesus. We really don't have enough time not to
pray.