[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.21.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE<\/strong><\/p>\n The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.<\/span> <\/span>Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, \u201cCome with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.\u201d <\/span>So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.<\/span> <\/span>But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.<\/span> <\/span>When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.<\/span><\/p>\n Mark 6:30-34<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/figure>\n by Pastor Telo Flores<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n We recently held a 3-day retreat for High School students. We\u2019ve been warned that this batch didn\u2019t have the best behavior in class. I paid little attention to those warnings, assuming that all the fun they\u2019ll have in the retreat would make them less \u201c<\/span>makulit<\/span><\/i>\u201d or \u201c<\/span>pasaway.<\/span><\/i>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \n Our coordinator was kind hearted. He enforced only a few rules to keep things in order. One rule was that no one should go to the swimming pool area so we could easily monitor everyone. However, during their first free time, many students changed into swimming attire and went to the pool. It was disheartening seeing them walking in direct disobedience against the rule we had just given them. I lost much of the excitement I had for the retreat.<\/span><\/p>\n \n Some days later, I was leading an Access Bible Study. We began by sharing personal updates. I shared about our retreat and how the students were \u201c<\/span>makulit<\/span><\/i>\u201d and \u201c<\/span>pasaway.<\/span><\/i>\u201d We then read our passage for the day in our verse-by-verse study of <\/span>Mark<\/span><\/i>. We just reached the <\/span>Feeding of the Five Thousand<\/span><\/i> story, which begins:<\/span><\/p>\n The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, \u201cCome with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.\u201d (Mark 6:30-31)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n I\u2019ve read this story many times, but our discussion helped me see things I never saw before:<\/span><\/p>\n Jesus and his disciples were apparently heading to a <\/span>retreat<\/span><\/i>. But on their way, they saw the five thousand men:<\/span><\/p>\n So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.<\/span><\/i> (Mark 6:32-33)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n The five thousand men were uninvited guests. They were intruders ruining the retreat plans of Jesus and his disciples.<\/span><\/p>\n I could imagine what Christ\u2019s disciples must have felt seeing that crowd. They felt frustrated and disrespected. Hence, their eagerness to have Jesus \u201csend them away\u201d (Mark 6:36). But what about Jesus? What did he think about this \u201c<\/span>makulit<\/span><\/i>\u201d and \u201c<\/span>pasaway<\/span><\/i>\u201d crowd?<\/span><\/p>\n When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. (Mark 6:34)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n This verse broke my heart. It showed me how far I\u2019ve fallen short in Christlikeness as a pastor. When I saw the students being \u201c<\/span>makulit<\/span><\/i>\u201d and \u201c<\/span>pasaway<\/span><\/i>\u201d, I lost the desire to serve them. But Jesus saw a larger crowd who were much more \u201c<\/span>makulit<\/span><\/i>\u201d and \u201c<\/span>pasaway<\/span><\/i>.\u201d He loved them.<\/span><\/p>\n I was once a \u201c<\/span>makulit<\/span>\u201d and \u201c<\/span>pasaway<\/span>\u201d student. In many ways, I still am \u201c<\/span>makulit<\/span>\u201d and \u201c<\/span>pasaway<\/span>.\u201d But Jesus loves me. He is patient with me. He died for me. As a sinner bought by Christ\u2019s precious blood, I must serve others with the same love and patience.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n REFLECTION<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Has your patience been tested recently while serving the people God called you to serve? How should the love and patience of Christ inspire you to minister to others? In what ways can we be more Christlike in our ministries?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n PRAYER<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lord, thank You for Your love and patience. We do not deserve Your kindness. Help us become more like You as we serve others, in Jesus’ name, amen.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, \u201cCome with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.\u201d So […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4051","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-devotionals","category-text-devo"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4051","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4051"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4051\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4054,"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4051\/revisions\/4054"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4051"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4051"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4051"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
DEVOTIONAL<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n
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