The Lord Was an Early Riser (1) - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He [Jesus] went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
Mark 1:35

The Lord Was an Early Riser (1)
I got a great lift recently in reading the first chapter of Mark's Gospel. When I came to verse 35, I had to stop and give thanks to God, for as by a flash of light from heaven I was made to realize that I could never be up too early for the Lord. My troubles may begin with my first conscious moment, but He has risen up before them and is always ready for them. He is always ahead of them and of me. And with Him there is the needed grace to carry me through every trouble, whenever and wherever they may arise.

The statement I have quoted is a most beautiful one. The Lord had many towns to visit, had much service to do in them, had many needs to meet and sorrows to sooth; the miseries of the multitudes would surge about Him when the day awoke, but they would not take Him by surprise or overwhelm Him, for He had risen up before them all, and was prepared for every one of them; the supplies in Him were equal to the day's demands. He viewed the whole range of those demands in communion with His Father. Each individual case passed before Him, and was the subject of His intercession in that solitary place into which He went to pray.

comes forcibly and blessedly to the mind at this point. "The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned [disciple], that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned [learner, or disciple]." Wonderful description of our Lord's life of service on earth!

J. T. Mawson
O teach us more of Thy blest ways, Thou Holy Lamb of God,

And fix and root us in Thy grace, as those redeemed by blood.

J. Hutton