Discerning Distraction

Mark gives a glimpse into the life Jesus had...things and people constantly pulling Him in every direction. The quality He mastered perfectly is discernment. He knew what needed His attention and the value and priority of something's over others. He knew what to pay close attention to. At one point Jesus had just crossed over on boat and a large crowd had gathered around Him. A perfect opportunity to speak truth to all who had gathered to listen...but a synagogue leader came up to Jesus and begged, "My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” So Jesus went with him." Mark 5:23-24 This man could have been seen as the distraction of the situation pulling Jesus away from crowds of people that could have become believers...but Jesus saw this man as the priority and the crowds as the distraction to what was truly important in that moment. As Jesus was on His way to heal the synagogue leader's dying daughter, a woman reached out a touched the hem of His robe...in the urgency of a dying child, Jesus stopped where He was and amidst the filled and jam-packed crowds all pressing in on Him, He was looking for the one who touched the hem of His robe...the one that He felt power leave His body for. It was a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years and had spent all she had searching for healing. She believed in faith, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Mark 5:28 In the urgency of saving a child, He discerned that this woman was the priority not the distraction. As He continued to the home of the dying child, they got knees that child had died...but Jesus responds, "Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Mark 5:36 And as He enters the house of mourning family and friends He had everyone leave the room except a few... "After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old)." Mark 5:40-42 He recognized that the mourning family and friends were the distraction so He "put them all out" and healed the child. Jesus has mastered the valuable and precious quality of discerning distraction...recognizing what is truly important in each moment. His truth and spirit will guide us in this discernment as we continue to earnestly pursue our relationship with Him. Consider what you believe to be the distractions...are they really the distractions or are they the experiences Jesus discerns as what's truly important? Let Him teach your heart to discern distraction with an eternally-focused heart.