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No Neglect - Matthew 14:22-23
  
Then Jesus made the followers get into the boat. Jesus told them to go to the other side of the lake. Jesus said that he would come later. Jesus stayed there to tell the people they could go home. After Jesus said good-bye to the people, he went up into the hills. Jesus went there alone to pray. It was late, and Jesus was there alone. (ERV)
Full Text
Key Thought
For me, two convictions come out of Jesus' actions:
--Jesus is compassionate to the end!
--Jesus may have put off his time with the Father, but he didn't neglect it!
Let me explain. While grieving the loss of John the Baptist, Jesus ministered to the crowd and also to his disciples. Jesus took care of the crowd so he could send the disciples away on ahead of him. Then Jesus entered into his time of prayer in a place away from the crowds and in the presence of his Father.
Both his caring for the crowds and his disciples as well as his time along with god are important reminders to me. In my grief and heartbreak, I need to remember others and not wallow in my own self-pity. But helping others must not be an escape from spending time with God. Only time with the Father truly renews, restores, and revitalizes.
Today's Prayer
Holy God, I confess that I cannot bear under the load of life without your help and support. Thank you for supplying me with power to deal with difficult times in ways which honored you and blessed others. Thank you for never forsaking me. In Jesus' name I thank you. Amen.
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Today's Verses in Context
— Matthew 4:22-36 (ERV)
Comments on "No Neglect":
Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.
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The next morning, Jesus woke up very early. Jesus left the house while it was still dark. He went to a place to be alone and pray. Later, Simon and his friends went to look for Jesus. They found Jesus and said, "All the people are looking for you!" Jesus answered, "We should go to another place. We can go to other towns around here. Then I can tell people {God's message} in those places also. That is why I came." So Jesus traveled everywhere in Galilee. He spoke in the synagogues. And he forced demons to leave people.
Mark 1:35-39 (ERV)
Jesus left the city (Jerusalem) and went to the Mount of Olives. His followers went with him. (Jesus went there often.) Jesus said to his followers, "Pray for strength against temptation."
Luke 22:39-40 (ERV)
But the news about Jesus spread more and more. Many people came to hear Jesus and to be healed of their sicknesses. Jesus often went away to other places to be alone so that he could pray.
Luke 5:15-16 (ERV)
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