How often are you interrupted?
If you are a parent, the children will interrupt you because they need you at that specific moment in time. A baby will not wait until mom is finished with her work to get fed or be changed. It must be done right now.
On the job we get interrupted often by the needs of others, or the boss takes you off one job to work on another. It is frustrating sometimes, because we get so deeply involved in what we are doing that if we are taken away from it, we will struggle with getting back on track with what we were doing.
You are in the waiting room of a doctor’s office and have waited for over an hour to see the doctor. At the moment you think you will be called back, an emergency arises and you have to wait even longer (and let us be honest – waiting at a doctor’s office is not fun) and having to wait because of interruptions aggravates you that much more.
Have you ever considered the moments when Jesus was interrupted? Sometimes even his interruptions were interrupted.
In Luke 5:17-26 Jesus was busy teaching, and “. . . men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before him. And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.” He had been interrupted, yet, because of the faith of the man’s friends, he healed him, much to the chagrin of the Pharisees. This passage teaches a great lesson on friendship, faith, determination, and love for others. (see also Mark 2:1-12 – Jesus had preached the word to them)
When Jesus needed to grieve over the loss of John the Baptist by his beheading from Herod, Jesus “. . . departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities (Matthew 14:13). Jesus, as all of us, needed time to mourn John the Baptizer’s death, yet when a “great multitude followed him, He was moved with compassion for them and healed their sick.” Jesus was interrupted as he traveled (Matthew 14:13) then Jesus fed the multitude with five loaves and two fish” (Matthew 14:17-21). Shortly after this, Jesus sent his disciples away so he could pray, and then walked on the sea to calm the storm (Matthew 17:23-33).
Jairus, who was a ruler of a synagogue, asked Jesus to come to heal his daughter, who was twelve years of age. Jesus came to Jairus’ house, yet was interrupted when a woman came and pleaded with him to be healed. For twelve years she spent money on physicians that could not make her well. The woman touched Jesus, and she was healed. (Luke 8:40-56). She did not want to bother him, but she touched the border of his garment. Her faith made her well.
In the meantime Jesus then went on and healed the girl in the house, even after hearing that the girl had died. Jesus stated to them “Do not weep, she is not dead, but sleeping.” (Luke 8:52).
While eating with the Pharisees – a “sinner” came in the door and began to wash Jesus’ feet while Jesus ate. Simon the pharisee judged her, and stated, “This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” (Luke 7:36-50).
Interruptions. We all have them. Do they irritate us? Do we work through them with exasperation because we wanted to do something else? Does God allow us to have interruptions to see how we would react, especially if it is with someone we love? Does our love show the most when we are interrupted and drop everything to come to the aid of the one in need? Did Jesus set an example for all of us in his attitude toward those who interrupted Him?
Remember Proverbs 19:21 “There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless, the Lord’s counsel – that will stand.”
Do we see the opportunities that we have to make a difference in someone’s life? Am I willing to drop everything to serve others? Even in the interruptions?
Tommy
