“When you decide you want to change, to make progress, to do something great, life has a way of smacking you in the mouth. When it does, don’t forget that it happened to Jesus too, and remember what he did: he got alone so he could abide in the Father.”- Kyle Idleman
“But the crowds heard where [Jesus] was headed and followed on foot from many towns. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.”- Matthew 14:13-14 (NLT)
In Chapter 12 (“One Need At a Time”), the final chapter of One At a Time, Kyle Idleman talks about four obstacles. Thus, Pastor Idleman identifies the obstacles that might stop you gain a story of living one at a time. Today Kyle looks at the first obstacle.
Obstacle 1: Too worn out to reach out. In Matthew 13, we read that Jesus went to his hometown of Nazareth. But the people took offense at Jesus (v. 57). As a result, Jesus couldn’t help people He’d known all His life. Next, in Matthew 14, Jesus learns of the execution of John the Baptist, His cousin.
Hence, Kyle notes, sometimes life smacks you in the head with a brick. And, at other times, life crushes you with a concrete block. So, what do you do when you find yourself in a bad place, then receive even worse news? Matthew 14:13 (NLT) tells us that “as soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone.”
Thus, Pastor Idleman describes how Jesus dealt with the crowds – always crowds:
“Jesus was in a difficult place — rejected by friends, a relative just died — but crowds showed up wanting Jesus to meet their needs. You would think his emotional tank would be empty, but Jesus had been spending time with his Father. One-on-one time with God gives us what we need to impact others one at a time.”
Today’s question: What Bible verses sustain you when you find life smacking you in the mouth? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: Our ordinary acts of love”
