Troy's Attitude
READ: Mark 6:31-34
Troy had just gotten home from soccer practice. IT was a long, hard practice and he was tired. He had also been up late the previous night studying for a big chemistry test. All he wanted to do was to go to his room and rest. When he got there and laid down, however, there was a knock at the door. “Don’t you want something to eat?” It was his mother.
“No,” he said.
A few minutes later there was another knock. It was his dad reminding Troy that he had to mow the lawn the next day. Then the phone rang and it was his friend. Troy was starting to get angry at everyone.
I’m sure that most of you have had similar experiences. How did you react? Did you get mad or did you take the time and energy to talk to everyone in a caring way?
If you did what Jesus did, you did the second of the two. No matter what, Jesus was a perfect Shepherd for His sheep. Mark 6:32 tells us that Jesus and the disciples wanted to get some rest, but later in Mark 6:34 it says, “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them...So he began teaching them many things.”
As you can see from those verses, like Troy, Jesus wanted to be alone. Unlike Troy, however, He had compassion on the people.
We should all make Jesus our role model.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT: What are some areas that you could use more patience in? How can Jesus help you? What can you do if you try and still lose control?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS: Pray that you can learn to have patience with others when you’re having a hard time. Give thanks that God has always shown compassion toward us. Pray for others who you know have no patience.