December 1 - A Desert Place.

Mark 6:31
“And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.”
 
It has been said that we should come apart before we fall apart. Christ invited the disciples into a desert place to rest, but in order to rest they had to come apart. In order to separate ourselves, we must often depart into another place.
 
Mark 6:32
“And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.”
 
The disciples could find no place of leisure due to all the people around them. Where could they go? Christ has reserved them a desert place for them to rest, and He would go with them. Sometimes the Lord will send us to a desert place in order for us to get alone with Him.
 
Mark 6:34
“And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.”
 
News had spread so much about Christ and His miracles that they could not get alone for long. He was moved with compassion toward the people, and saw them as sheep having no shepherd. He began to teach them, and they listened. Oftentimes it is a desert place where we can learn the most from the Lord. Does the Lord have to bring us into a desert place in order to get our attention so that we will listen to Him?
 
Mark 6:38
“He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.”
 
Christ can work miracles within a desert place.
Christ knew that the disciples needed to rest, but He also knew where they could find true rest…in Him. After they rested just one day with Him, they saw Him feed the multitude of 5,000 with just the lunch of a little lad. The disciples brought the loaves of bread and fishes to Him. They saw Him bless and brake the bread. Christ handed the food to the disciples to set before the people so they could eat. After they were all filled, it was the disciples that took up the miraculous twelve baskets of fragments. One for each of them to marvel and remember the miracle that had just taken place.
 
When the Lord brings us into a desert place, we can feel uncertain and confused; but He always has a purpose. If you find yourself in a desert place, rest in Him and allow Him to fulfill His purpose in your life.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Ezekiel 39-40  |  Hebrews 1  |  Psalm 124