Quiet, Lowly Service - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2025

However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
Luke 5:15-16

Quiet, Lowly Service
From the beginning of the ministry of the Lord Jesus, how real was the blessing of God upon it! In this chapter of Luke we read that with a touch He had healed a man full of leprosy (vv. 12-14). Although that man was to tell no one, yet the news spread, and crowds were drawn to hear and to be healed by Him. But the blessed Lord of glory was not carried away by the excitement of the crowd, as would be the case with popular preachers today. Some would consider this a wonderful opportunity, but the Lord withdrew Himself and prayed. He did not come to advertise Himself, but to do the will of God. If great crowds would tend to distract from the reality and truth of His message of grace, He would quietly withdraw to a deserted place and pray.

His prayer here indicates that He weighed all things soberly in the presence of God. Some might feel that this was the opportunity to introduce a great new era of blessing and the alleviation of the many ills of mankind. Not so! He had come, not to change the world's condition, but to save souls out of the world.

If this is so with the Master, then what of the servant? If the servant should so prosper in his service to attract crowds of people, will he take advantage of this to draw more attention to himself and to glory in the popularity he is given? How subtle a snare this becomes! May the servant of God know how to withdraw from all public acclaim and in sober, discerning prayer seek the presence of God. "It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master" (Mt. 10:25). And we have here the perfect example of our Lord Jesus: He withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

L. M. Grant