Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

August 17
Saturday

READ:
Mark 6:30-32


SLACK TIDE

He said to them,
"Come aside by
yourselves to a
deserted place and
rest a while."
__Mark 6:31
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I find it fascinating to consider the pull of the moon on our great oceans, which creates high and low tides. At the changing of the tide, there is a brief period of time called "slack tide" when the water is neither high nor low. According to scientists, this is when the water is "unstressed." It is a quiet pause before the surging of tidal flow begins again.

Sometimes in our busy schedules we may feel pulled in different directions by competing responsibilities. In Jesus' ministry, we see how He understood the demands made on His followers and the need for rest. Returning from a traveling ministry in teams of two, the Twelve reported the wonderful things that God had done through them (Mark. 6:7-13,30). But Jesus responded: " 'Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.' For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themelves" (vv.31-32).

What responsibilities are pulling on you today? It is certainly acceptable to plan some rest and relaxation time to rejuvenate your body and soul for more fruitful service to others. Jesus advised it, and we all need it. He will meet you there. __Dennis Fisher

```````````````````````````My Shepherd is the Lord``````````````````````
`````````````````````Who knows my needs, and i am blest;````````````````
`````````````````````By quiet streams, in pastures green```````````````````
`````````````````````He leads and makes me rest. __Psalter````````````````
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Spending quiet time with God
can bring quiet rest from God.

*******************Today's Bible Reading __ Mark 6:30-32********************

30 Then the apostles
gathered to Jesus and told
Him all things, both what
they had done and what
they had taught. 31 And He
said to them, "Come aside
by yourselves to a deserted
place and rest a while." For
there were many coming
and going, and they did not
even have time to eat.

32 So they departed to a
deserted place in the boat
by themselves.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In today's passage, we read of the apostles enthusiastically reporting
to Christ the marvelous ways God had blessed their service.
Interestingly, Jesus said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to
a deserted place and rest a while" (v.31). We are then told that
their high-energy involvement in the Lord's work had distracted
them from even eating. Wisely, Jesus understood that both spiritual
and physical considerations must enter into the life of balanced
ministry__especially for the long haul. This is why serving the Lord
should always have built into it proper provision for exercise,
nourishment, and rest. Our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit
and so should be treated with balanced stewardship (1 Cor. 6:19).