Far From the Maddening Crowd

Minister Colette L. Walker
Mark 4:35-41
“Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him” (v. 36 NIV).
In Mark 4:1 we find Jesus starting out his day beside the sea, using parables to teach people about the kingdom of God. As his ministry grew, larger crowds gathered. Crowds have power, momentum, and a mind of their own. Their actions and reactions can positively and negatively impact your mission, ideas, energy, and focus. Crowds can break loose and run you over! Crowds can also lift your flesh up, appeal to your base instincts and stroke your ego, trampling your body and running right over the spirit of God within you. “That was an awesome sermon you preached Rev!” “No one can pray like you Deacon!” “You’re the best ministry leader we’ve ever had!” It’s hard to hear the heavy, crushing work boots of the crowd when they’re encased in beautiful, sweet words!

Sometimes you must move away from the crowd to avoid being trampled by the crowd. At the end of the day Jesus left the crowd behind and crossed over to the other side, to venture into Gentile territory. How about you: can you move away from the crowd? Can you move away from the clichés and hype surrounding ministry without moving away from Jesus? As the crowd increases can you decrease? Never mind who’s following you; who are you following, Jesus or the crowd? Ultimately, no matter what corporation signs your pay check or what organization validates your call, the crowd does not own you. Jesus does. Don’t allow the crowd to dictate your travel itinerary.

Let’s Pray: Precious and Promise-fulfilling God, thank you for the crowd. Bless my feet to do exactly what you created them to do – get me to the other side. Today I leave the crowd behind and simply follow you.

Minister Colette L. Walker
Moring Star Community Christian Center Linden, NJ
www.morningstarccc.org