But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:40-42 NIV
Evidently there was some sort of big social event taking place where Mary and Martha lived. Martha was really good at hospitality. She took what she did seriously. Mary was another story. From Martha's point of view, Mary was easily distracted.
Jesus stopped by to visit. Martha kept working. Mary stopped decorating and was talking with Jesus. For someone as organized and driven as Martha, this was too much.
In her own way, Martha was as comfortable with Jesus as Mary was. Notice the freedom with which she expresses her annoyance to Jesus. And isn't it interesting that in response, Jesus doesn't waste time talking about Martha's bad attitude like I might have done. Instead, He talks about priorities.
Martha had a lot going on. Her day planner was full of all sorts of things. They weren't bad things. Feeding people, making sure everyone's comfortable, keeping things neat are all good. There is a higher priority, however. Taking time for spiritual growth has to be the top of the list every time. Martha had let other important things get higher on her daily task list than they should have been.
I've thought about this story many times. It seems so simple. My mind and my heart are attracted to the spirituality of Scriptue. Why then is it so easy for me to rush around taking care of things including people when I first need Christ to show me how to live? People are improtant. Projects are good. Christ is necessary.
No matter how busy my day, there is no shortcut to service. Jesus, my example, began His day with prayer. Quite a bit of prayer. He spent time alone on His connection with Heaven. Without that preparation there would have been no lepers healed, no people fed, no cross on Calvary.
I'm glad for the story. I'm happy for the good news that I can choose the one necessary thing from the day's task list. I'm happy that in Christ I see gentleness and graciousness and salvation in the way that He treats Martha and me.
Sunday, December 3, 2006
Saturday, December 2, 2006
The Big Thing
I've been thinking about the church lately. It seems that quite a bit is being done to make the church effective in planning, efficient in use of time and certainly friendly to diverse people groups. Since I've been around churches for a few years, I've come to notice that ideas to make churches "better" generally run in cycles. Folks get really excited about the latest ministry concepts for a year or two until they fade and are put on the shelf until something new comes along once again.
It seems to me that the church has endured a lot. We who are leaders try to make our mark through innovation, newer and more exciting plans, better resources. But in reality, many of these creative ideas simply absorb the energy of the real church (the people) and deflect it from the true purpose of the church.
In simplicity, the church exists because sin, people and the Kingom exist. The church is God's property. He designed it. It is to function as a great collector of people who feel that the Kingdom is important and that they would like to be a part of it. Sometimes the church gets in the way of that mission. People fight. Meetings about structure and plans take up so much time that nothing is left for touching people's lives or building authentic relationships. Resources are devoted to projects which are peripheral to the whole purpose of helping people to the Kingdom.
As a kid, in the long summer evenings, the lights of our house attracted significant numbers of the large moths which emerge in the Midwest. Moving through the gathering dusk, the light was like a magnet to those impressive insects.
Christ used the symbolism of light to discuss the opportunities available to each of His disciples. "Let your light shine," He said, "so those around you can see who you really are and discover the Father."
The church must become that window where the light from Heaven shines attractively through the lives of the people who are a part of it. If this happens, the church's purpose in the sight of God will have been fulfilled and those who might otherwise have missed it will see the light of the Kingdom.
It seems to me that the church has endured a lot. We who are leaders try to make our mark through innovation, newer and more exciting plans, better resources. But in reality, many of these creative ideas simply absorb the energy of the real church (the people) and deflect it from the true purpose of the church.
In simplicity, the church exists because sin, people and the Kingom exist. The church is God's property. He designed it. It is to function as a great collector of people who feel that the Kingdom is important and that they would like to be a part of it. Sometimes the church gets in the way of that mission. People fight. Meetings about structure and plans take up so much time that nothing is left for touching people's lives or building authentic relationships. Resources are devoted to projects which are peripheral to the whole purpose of helping people to the Kingdom.
As a kid, in the long summer evenings, the lights of our house attracted significant numbers of the large moths which emerge in the Midwest. Moving through the gathering dusk, the light was like a magnet to those impressive insects.
Christ used the symbolism of light to discuss the opportunities available to each of His disciples. "Let your light shine," He said, "so those around you can see who you really are and discover the Father."
The church must become that window where the light from Heaven shines attractively through the lives of the people who are a part of it. If this happens, the church's purpose in the sight of God will have been fulfilled and those who might otherwise have missed it will see the light of the Kingdom.
Friday, December 1, 2006
Silence
Where I live, finding silence is not easy. If you think that you are in a quiet place, take a moment to really listen. As I write this I hear the noise of occasional cars, the ticking of clocks and the sound of distant voices. It really isn't quiet at all.
I've noticed that many people just don't like silence. They don't handle it well. During a recent journey, someone across the aisle had his iPod turned up so loud that I could hear pretty clearly what was on the playlist.
Silence, whether we like it or not, is important to spiritual and mental growth. Scripture says "Be still and know that I am God." While coporate worship and small group discussions are important and necessary in spiritual growth and health, a knowledge of God and our relationship to Him comes out of silence.
The great prophets of the Old Testament spent time in solitude. Jesus often spent the entire night in prayer. John wrote prophetically of the course of history and of the glories of Heaven while on Patmos away from the society of his day.
If solitude and silence are so important to Christian development, why doe we avoid it as we do? Perhaps it is because facing ourselves as we really are is uncomfortable to us. Or could it be that being alone with God is too much for us to handle? Whatever the answer, filling the times when we could be alone and quiet with people or noise is not an appropriate solution. Regardless of how we may feel, silence is important to us.
In a noisy and action-filled world, how does one go about finding silence? One might begin by finding a place where it is silent. It could be a park or library. It could be at home at certain times of the day. When I was a boy, my father found solitude for study and prayer at 4 am. Sometimes I find silence in an open cathedral or a seminary library. Silence can be created by turning off the TV or stereo. When traveling alone in the car, create silence by turning off the radio.
How does one use silence for Christian growth? Begin by an appropriate reading from Scripture. Expand beyond the list of "favorite texts." After reading the scripture passage, ask God to guide in the application of its principles to life. Many have found it useful to put their thoughts on paper for later consideration. Remember that spiritual growth is a process instead of an instantaneous event. We may find it necessary to reflect on the same lessons again and again before they become part of daily life.
Our spirituality and fulfillment will grow as we creatively pursue the gift of silence.
I've noticed that many people just don't like silence. They don't handle it well. During a recent journey, someone across the aisle had his iPod turned up so loud that I could hear pretty clearly what was on the playlist.
Silence, whether we like it or not, is important to spiritual and mental growth. Scripture says "Be still and know that I am God." While coporate worship and small group discussions are important and necessary in spiritual growth and health, a knowledge of God and our relationship to Him comes out of silence.
The great prophets of the Old Testament spent time in solitude. Jesus often spent the entire night in prayer. John wrote prophetically of the course of history and of the glories of Heaven while on Patmos away from the society of his day.
If solitude and silence are so important to Christian development, why doe we avoid it as we do? Perhaps it is because facing ourselves as we really are is uncomfortable to us. Or could it be that being alone with God is too much for us to handle? Whatever the answer, filling the times when we could be alone and quiet with people or noise is not an appropriate solution. Regardless of how we may feel, silence is important to us.
In a noisy and action-filled world, how does one go about finding silence? One might begin by finding a place where it is silent. It could be a park or library. It could be at home at certain times of the day. When I was a boy, my father found solitude for study and prayer at 4 am. Sometimes I find silence in an open cathedral or a seminary library. Silence can be created by turning off the TV or stereo. When traveling alone in the car, create silence by turning off the radio.
How does one use silence for Christian growth? Begin by an appropriate reading from Scripture. Expand beyond the list of "favorite texts." After reading the scripture passage, ask God to guide in the application of its principles to life. Many have found it useful to put their thoughts on paper for later consideration. Remember that spiritual growth is a process instead of an instantaneous event. We may find it necessary to reflect on the same lessons again and again before they become part of daily life.
Our spirituality and fulfillment will grow as we creatively pursue the gift of silence.
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