Every Morning, Early
“The crowds gathered at the Temple early each morning to hear him.” Luke 21:38 (NLT)
Every day he was teaching at the Temple, and the crowds gathered early each morning to hear Him. This verse shows us a fascinating detail from the final days of Jesus’ ministry. There was an urgency and a hunger in the people to hear His word. This passage reminded me today, personally, of the vital importance of my own daily meeting with God—of giving Him my best time, early in the morning, to pray and read the Bible. It is a principle we see in the crowd that followed Jesus: they made it a habit to begin their day in the temple to hear Him.
- The Value of the First Appointment of the Day.
The way the crowd sought Jesus “every morning” teaches us to prioritize our encounter with Him. Before any other appointment, meeting, or commitment, our first priority must be to talk with God.
- The Morning Offers a Time of Quality.
Why so early? Because it is the best time. It is a time of quality—before our mind is filled with work lists, life’s responsibilities, and the stress of the decisions we must make throughout the day.
- A Habit That Requires Discipline.
Surely this crowd did not live as fast-paced and materialistic a life as we do, yet they still needed discipline. How good it is when we can wake up to pray before the sun rises, even if, like last night during the Christmas celebration, we stayed up late.
- Discipline Forms Our Inner Clock.
When we persevere, our body and spirit adapt. After some time, it seems as though our brain creates a clock and wakes us at the same time, no matter when we went to sleep. It is the longing of the spirit calling us to that divine appointment.
Lord, give us the grace to maintain the discipline and good habits of coming to talk with You in our daily appointment, early in the morning. It is a time we deeply enjoy and that, like the crowd, positions us to hear Your voice before any other.
“The crowds gathered at the Temple early each morning to hear him.” Luke 21:38 (NLT)
Think About It:
- Are you giving God your “best time,” or only the time you have left over?
- What distractions or excuses keep you from seeking God “early in the morning”?
- What step of discipline can you take this week to establish or strengthen your habit of meeting with God first?