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Thought For The Week
“In a Desert Place at the end of the Day”
Luke 9:10-12 [10]… And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place … And the people, … followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing… And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals:for we are here in a desert place.
Jesus probably went to the desert place to grieve the death of John the Baptizer, but the tragic news did not stop him from spreading the good news. A desert is an empty place as well as a place of solitude. Jesus was the man of sorrow who was acquainted with grief (Is. 53). He experienced grief and did not view it as something to get over without first expressing it. He expressed grief at the tomb of Lazarus (Jn. 11:35). He expressed grief over his own pending death (Heb. 5:7). Grief is mostly discussed in the context of the loss of a love one. However, any loss can be an occasion for grief, even the loss of a job or a child leaving home to go to college. When I looked in the mirror and saw a receding hairline, I experienced a since of loss. We all have periods of empty feelings, grief, yes desert places! But even a desert place like grief and loss are occasions for God’s will to be done. This includes a desert place of unemployment, foreclosure, separation, divorce, and etc.
There are at least three biblical reasons why Jesus will not only meet you in a desert place, but will also lead you into a desert place.
1. Testing – face it! “…Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil” (Matt. 4:13).
2. Resting – enjoy it! “…And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while:” (Mark 6:31). 3.
3. Blessings – receive it! “… And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals:for we are here in a desert place. … Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. And they did eat, and were all filled” (Luke 9:12-16).
For all who are following Jesus and are still in a desert place at the end of the day, remember the words of the Psalmist concerning Israel in a desert place “He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave Psalm 107:20.” If you are one of the many whose following the word made flesh and still in a desert place at the end of the day: face the test, enjoy the rest, and expect to be blessed!
