Luke 10:41-42
But the Lord said to her, “Martha,
dear friend, you are so upset over all these details! There is really
only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it—and I
won’t take it away from her!”
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
My mother once gave me a book titled, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World*.
The premise was that we spend a lot of time worrying…and most of it is
about things that are either insignificant – or low priority! Certain
“worries” are rites of passage and part of growing up…like the litany of
stresses that compile “teenage angst.” But those who, like me, have
lived a few decades can probably look back on several events and
circumstances and say, “I wasted far too much time on that!”
“Woulda,
shoulda, coulda”…these are all natural sentiments that most of us have
experienced. “I wish I would have studied more”…”I should have spent
more time with this person or that one”…”I could have made more of an
effort to get to know Jesus better at a younger age – and saved myself
some heartache!” Regrets and worry are a natural part of the human
psyche.
But hear the words of Jesus in these verses…and go back
and read all of the story in Luke 10, if you need to refresh your
memory. Stop and take a good look at what is concerning you these
days…then ask, “Is this really what matters most?” Is it more important
that we spend time on the things that express our love - and the love
of Jesus – for others…or do we really need that latest gizmo or new
outfit we spent hours shopping for? When someone drops by for a visit,
will you worry about how your house looks – or enjoy their company?
When
your favorite television program is interrupted by a phone call from a
friend or loved one who wants to visit, will you be irritated – or
attentive? Will you read to a child – or spend an hour surfing social
media? Will you be so self-absorbed or concerned about keeping up
appearances that you miss the beauty of a crisp fall day…a few minutes
spent in strengthening and encouraging conversation with God… or even
His gift of a few hours of much-needed rest and renewal?
Worry
steals our energy, our time, and our joy. Misplaced priorities rob us
of God’s blessings – and our true purpose as Christian disciples. Will
you spend some time today seeking God’s will and direction for your
life…and syncing your agenda with His? I probably need to get this book
out and read it again, because worry has a way of creeping into our
lives in ways that we don’t even notice! Will this be the day that you start becoming a “Mary in a Martha World?” - and learn to operate in what is really important? Don’t you think it should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
* Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World - ©2000 Joanna Weaver - http://www.amazon.com/Having-Mary-Heart-Martha-World/dp/1578562589
Showing posts with label serving God versus serving ourselves. Show all posts
Showing posts with label serving God versus serving ourselves. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for January 4, 2014
Matthew 19:16
Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I’ll admit that I am sometimes a slow reader… and it’s taken me a LONG time to read through Anne Graham Lotz’ book - Just Give Me Jesus. Maybe that’s by God’s design, because each time I pick it up and read a few pages, I gain a new insight. And today was no exception.
As I read this passage from Matthew, I asked God, “Where is the message of compassion in these words?” Then I opened Lotz’ book and read about how Jesus was tried by the Romans, who were so preoccupied and legalistic that they totally neglected moral law. In other words, like the man who asked Jesus what good thing he had to do to get into heaven, they over looked the truths that He was presenting…His spiritual message. And in turn, we often overlook the more primary focus of Christian discipleship.
See, it’s not about what we do, per se… or certainly how good we are. As Lotz points out, these are secondary issues that we have chosen to make the priority. So as she puts it, we gripe about our health while we fail to maintain a proper diet and exercise. We yell at our kids or our spouse and don’t see that we are YELLING! We focus on the money and raising funds for redecorating the church – or even to support a mission project… but we fail to reach out to those smack dab in our midst who need to hear about Jesus or experience His love, grace and mercy through our kindness. We worry about how our church is growing distant and disinterested as a collective body or denomination…while we don’t even seem to see the needs of those who live a few doors down the street.
In a nutshell, we can’t see the forest for the trees! We’re so focused on being good enough for God that we know we’ll “make it” to Heaven, and we totally miss our reason for being on this earth in the first place. If it’s all about being good and going to heaven, then God just as well snatch us on up there the minute we commit our hearts to Jesus. For many of us, this is the sad truth… because we’re wasting the time we have been given to serve as Christ’s disciples here and now!
I’m sure I am stepping on some toes here… and mine are just a bit sore, as well. But maybe we need a “wake-up call” of sorts! Maybe we need to be asking some questions of Jesus, too… like “Where can I better serve?” or “Who needs me today?” …or even, “What do You want me to do?”. When we start to focus on the needs of Jesus… and those of others He wishes us to reach…our priorities begin to line up with His. We can never be “good enough” for eternal life… this is God’s ultimate gift to us. He gave us Jesus… Who is all we ever need. And out of our sheer love and gratitude, we should stand ready to share Him with others… however He deems necessary.
What questions do you need to ask today? Where have you clouded the issue and gotten lost in the trees on your way to the forest? Will this be the day you begin to figure out what –and who - really matter?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I’ll admit that I am sometimes a slow reader… and it’s taken me a LONG time to read through Anne Graham Lotz’ book - Just Give Me Jesus. Maybe that’s by God’s design, because each time I pick it up and read a few pages, I gain a new insight. And today was no exception.
As I read this passage from Matthew, I asked God, “Where is the message of compassion in these words?” Then I opened Lotz’ book and read about how Jesus was tried by the Romans, who were so preoccupied and legalistic that they totally neglected moral law. In other words, like the man who asked Jesus what good thing he had to do to get into heaven, they over looked the truths that He was presenting…His spiritual message. And in turn, we often overlook the more primary focus of Christian discipleship.
See, it’s not about what we do, per se… or certainly how good we are. As Lotz points out, these are secondary issues that we have chosen to make the priority. So as she puts it, we gripe about our health while we fail to maintain a proper diet and exercise. We yell at our kids or our spouse and don’t see that we are YELLING! We focus on the money and raising funds for redecorating the church – or even to support a mission project… but we fail to reach out to those smack dab in our midst who need to hear about Jesus or experience His love, grace and mercy through our kindness. We worry about how our church is growing distant and disinterested as a collective body or denomination…while we don’t even seem to see the needs of those who live a few doors down the street.
In a nutshell, we can’t see the forest for the trees! We’re so focused on being good enough for God that we know we’ll “make it” to Heaven, and we totally miss our reason for being on this earth in the first place. If it’s all about being good and going to heaven, then God just as well snatch us on up there the minute we commit our hearts to Jesus. For many of us, this is the sad truth… because we’re wasting the time we have been given to serve as Christ’s disciples here and now!
I’m sure I am stepping on some toes here… and mine are just a bit sore, as well. But maybe we need a “wake-up call” of sorts! Maybe we need to be asking some questions of Jesus, too… like “Where can I better serve?” or “Who needs me today?” …or even, “What do You want me to do?”. When we start to focus on the needs of Jesus… and those of others He wishes us to reach…our priorities begin to line up with His. We can never be “good enough” for eternal life… this is God’s ultimate gift to us. He gave us Jesus… Who is all we ever need. And out of our sheer love and gratitude, we should stand ready to share Him with others… however He deems necessary.
What questions do you need to ask today? Where have you clouded the issue and gotten lost in the trees on your way to the forest? Will this be the day you begin to figure out what –and who - really matter?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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