The First Church Retreat

# 411 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 6:31 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.”

Consider the situation. Jesus and His disciples have just received the news of the death of John the Baptist. (An emotional low.) The disciples are riding an emotional high as they have returned from their first excursion into the world as the church and had great success! But there was no time to take any of it in. No time to mourn, no time to rejoice. In fact as we read, they had no time to eat because the people kept coming to Jesus for His touch.

This is the lot of the work of the church. It is filled with emotional highs and lows, and physical demands. This roller coasting living takes its toll. And Jesus calls for the first church retreat.

This is another model that we would do well to implement in our churches today. The practice of holding regular church retreats. He said, “Come aside by yourselves,” indicating they should go off together to a deserted place for the purpose of resting and recharging their spiritual and physical batteries.

Praise God for Christian camps and retreat centers. They provide an opportunity for such rest. Pray for them, support them in any way you can, and most importantly use them! It's what Jesus urged His church to do.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.