Our world is out of control. Daily headlines declare terrorist attacks, economic collapse, natural disasters, rumors of wars, deadly epidemics, famine, and more.

President Obama said recently, “There’s a sense possibly that the world is spinning so fast and nobody is able to control it.”

Even our personal world appears to be out of control. I’ve talked with people whose jobs are slipping away. Finances are stretched to the limit. Marriages are dissolving. Children are getting more and more difficult to rear. We try to do the best we can, but nothing seems to work. Who’s in control?

My encouragement to you is to give Jesus control of your life. The disciples gave Jesus control of their life. They followed Him for over 3 years. In Mark 6:30-34 we discover 3 things Jesus gives people who give Him control of their life.

1. Jesus gives a Companion.

And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. (Mark 6:30)

Jesus sent the disciples in pairs to preach the kingdom. He called them to return to meet together as a group. Mark says little about the details of the ‘work.’ It is almost as though more important than what they said and did is their coming back to Him. Preaching, teaching, healing, and casting out demons do not make those who do them disciples of Jesus. The clue is in their being sent by Hi, doing what He told them, and returning to Him and staying with Him. These other things may be fruits of discipleship, but not the root. The root is attachment with Jesus Himself, from whom the disciples’ life comes.

It is easy to get caught up in the work. If we are not careful, we will miss spending time with Jesus. This was the first time the disciple went out on their own (without Jesus). They returned with excitement to tell Jesus all about it. Perhaps it would be a good adjustment for our, sometimes, foolish activities if we adopted the same practice of reporting our work to the Lord in prayer. We could ask Him to sort out the good from the bad, the important from the trivial. By doing so we could receive His guidance for future activity.

2. Jesus gives Rest.

And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: (Mark 6:31)

Doing God’s work is important, but Jesus recognized that to do it effectively we need periodic rest and renewal. There is only so much a person can do physically and spiritually; then the body needs rest and the soul needs refreshment. Even Jesus needed time to rest, fellowship with His friends, and find renewal from the Father.

Rest allows time for reflection, meditation, conversation, reading, and prayer. Take a little time to dream. Count your blessings.

Even God rested on the 7th day. Why? Not because He was tired. A God that can put enough energy in one atom to destroy a city doesn’t get tired. He rested because He finished what He set out to do and wanted to enjoy the fruits of His labor. The idea of a week with its Sabbath is unique in that it wasn’t instituted because of the natural world (like day, month, year) but because God says so. It is the wise provision of a loving God who knows how we are made and makes provision for us to rest not only between each day but also one day out of seven.

3. Jesus gives Guidance.

And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:34)

The crowds surrounded Jesus. He saw them as ‘sheep without a shepherd.’ No animal is as dependent as a sheep. Without someone to guide it, it wanders, is lost, and becomes food for wolves.

Many people are wandering through life with little good guidance. They are unsure of what to do. What do they need? They need guidance. The Bible is God’s guide book. It is the true source for spiritual food, and protects us against the evil in the world that seeks to destroy us.

Are you serving in a ministry that you love and feel God’s blessing? Come to Jesus and talk about it.

Are you tired and weary? Come to Jesus for rest. He said, “Come unto me all ye who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).

Are you wandering in life with little purpose? Jesus wants to give you guidance and instruction through life. Follow Him.

Read my other article: Who Controls Your World?