The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with His hand.
Psalm 37:23-24 NIV
Have you ever felt compelled to run to Jesus? We rush to countless places every day. It may be to a job to earn our living or to grab a child away from the stove. It may just be to the kitchen. Or to the bathroom (if you are on a diuretic like me). But it seems we are constantly rushing somewhere to something.
But running to Jesus?
Personally, I find constant reasons to run to Him. There is always an urgent need of some kind, if simply for peace of mind. In contemplating my past recently, I was reminded of a silly happening from childhood days about rushing. It was the day my brother and I rushed to meet the ice cream truck.
The concrete of my grandmother’s driveway in Atlanta played havoc with knees. And elbows. And any part of the anatomy that connected with it. The drive was steep and my chubby legs were short; but when we heard music proclaiming the ice cream truck, we rushed to the street. I walked as carefully but as fast as possible without rolling.
Can you contain your joy in the face of ice cream? I couldn’t (still can’t). My brother couldn’t resist either. He was right there beside me. And, goodness, it was so delicious we inhaled every drip and frozen bite. It was worth the rush and the potential skinned knee danger.
Thinking about that day and rushing to get hold of the satisfying ice cream reminds me of people who rushed to get to Jesus in the 1st century. Here is just a sample of one event:
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables…
Matthew 13:1-3 NIV
The people of Galilee wanted to get to Jesus even more than we wanted the ice cream. Often, they rushed, in mass, to follow Him everywhere He went. Folks came together to find what they craved from Jesus. I imagine some even ran and that kids had a blast rolling down the hills of Galilee on the way.
Don’t you know the people hearing Jesus that day were fascinated with His words? They were filled with joy. They were satisfied. Why don’t we take the time to rush to Jesus? In fact, let’s run! Jesus is much more satisfying than ice cream.
Hugs and blessings,
Prayer
Dear Lord, please help us see and hear You as You move in our daily lives. Let us know the amazing fulfillment You will provide when we rush to You instead of other things. Amen.
How well I remember those summers of my childhood, playing in the backyard, when I suddenly heard that music. No mistaking it! The ice cream man was on my street. I would run into the house to find my allowance and then head out the front door. I usually got there in time, but not always. It really broke my little heart when I missed him.
We never have to worry about missing Jesus. If we seek Him, we will find Him. That is a solid promise in His word. PRAISE JESUS!