7th Floor Devotional Day 5: ”Making Time”

DEVOTIONAL DAY 5 - “Making Time.”

We live in a hectic world. How many of us wish we just had room to stop and breathe? There is always something fighting for our attention, but Jesus didn't design us to live that way. In fact, if people are our priority, there must be space in our lives to accommodate opportunities to minister to them along the way. Sometimes, being like Jesus is simply being available to people who God brings across our path. 

There are many examples of Jesus stopping and taking time to minister to hurting people. For example, take the story of Blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46-52. "Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus ("son of Timaeus"), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road."

I love this account because of the contrast between Bartimaeus, who believed in Jesus, the crowds around him who told him to shut up and go away, and Jesus, who called out to Bartimaeus and healed him. How often are we like the crowds who consider someone in need a nuisance or a hassle? After all, we have obligations to keep and things to do. But remember, sometimes, being like Jesus is simply being available to people who God brings across our path. The crowds were too busy with their own stuff to care about Bartimaeus. But Jesus was never too busy to take time with those who needed Him.

Do we have the margin to be available to those God brings across our path? Seventh-floor culture always takes the time to be with those in need. When was the last time you went out of your way to do just that?

So here is the prayer for today: Heavenly Father, thank you that you are a God that always takes time to tend to those in need. Help me remove the clutter in my life, so I have time to minister to those you lead my way. In Jesus' name, Amen.