“On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida.” – Luke 9:10
After a busy season of life and ministry, Jesus led His disciples away from the crowds and the busyness to rest, recover, and simply be near to Him. That particular retreat didn’t exactly work out for the disciples (they wound up feeding 5000 instead), but the pattern was set and faithful followers of Christ have long recognized the need to periodically step away from the hustle and bustle of life, retreat to a quiet location, and simply be near Him.
For many of us today, we have received exactly this invitation. Billions of people around the world are now required to slow down, ease off the busyness, clear our calendars, withdraw from public life for a season, and be at home. Rather than lament this, let’s consider it an invitation to withdraw from our usual craziness of life, to be still for while, and to draw near to Christ. Rather than fight, fuss, and fret, let us read (the Bible), pray, and worship in our homes. Find refreshment for your soul and rest for your body. Draw near to the Lord and be filled with His Spirit daily.
Let us come out of this time of forced retreat a changed people, with corrected priorities, clarity about what matters, richer spiritual lives, and a love and passion for the God who met us at home these many weeks!