Matthew 14:13-14

Matthew 14:13-14 (ESV): “13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.”

Being a Christ follower is not an easy venture. It’s a call to sacrificial living, where you consider others’ interests more than your own. That is how Jesus lived, and His followers should as well.

After Jesus heard that John the Baptist had been beheaded by Herod Antipas, He withdrew to a desolate place, no doubt grieving His cousin’s death. However, when the crowds saw Him depart, they followed Him. When He arrived on the other side of the Sea of Galilee, He saw the crowd, had compassion on them, and healed the sick. Jesus never stopped ministering, not even in the midst of His own grief.

When you withdraw from the crowd for personal reasons, do you still minister to those God puts in front of you? It could be family members, friends, or strangers. Sometimes the best thing for us to do is minister rather than sit in our sorrow. You might not feel like it at the time, but the reality is that serving others is medicine for the soul. It’s OK to pull back at times. Just don’t miss the opportunities God puts in front of you while you are doing that. Amen?

Father, You know what is best for us when we are grieving. Help us not to miss opportunities to serve others in the midst of our troubles. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.