OCTOBER 10, 2014
The
Lesson Of The Hula Hoop
Read: Mark
6:34-44
Let us not grow weary while doing good. —Galatians
6:9
One of my favorite
childhood toys is making a comeback—the hula hoop. My friend Suzi and I spent
hours on the front lawn perfecting our technique and competing to see which of
us could keep a hoop circling our waist longer. This year I relived that part
of my childhood. While sitting in a park, I watched as children of all ages and
sizes tried their hardest to keep hula hoops from falling to the ground. They
twisted and turned with all their strength, but despite their exertion the
hoops landed on the ground. Then a young woman picked up a hoop. With hardly
any motion, she moved it smoothly and rhythmically up and down from her waist
to her shoulders and back to her waist. Her success depended on strategic
movement, not vigorous motion.
In our spiritual
lives, we can expend all kinds of energy trying to keep up with others in
service to God. But working to exhaustion is not a virtue (Gal. 6:9). Before
feeding thousands of people with only five loaves and two fish (Mark 6:38-44),
Jesus called His disciples away to rest, proving that He doesn’t need our
frantic exertion to accomplish His work. The truth Jesus taught His disciples,
He wants to teach us: Quiet obedience accomplishes more than wild activity.
Help me, Lord, not to
compare myself and
what I do with others.
May I serve where You
want me to serve and
do it in Your strength.
I love You and give
myself to You.
Jesus wants
willingness, not weariness.
Insight
It is believed by
scholars that each of the four gospel narratives was written to a specific
audience. In that context, Mark’s gospel is said to have targeted a Roman
audience—with a strong emphasis on action, movement, and the works of Jesus,
including the miraculous feeding of the 5,000 in today’s text.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012