Good Morning Friends,
Today we have Martha complaining about life and Paul exalting God in how grace transforms. Both are examples of how God reassures us of the Divine redeeming love of Jesus. Martha’s lament though highly personal is also a reflection of the community’s cry that we were born both as individuals and as a culture protesting the kind of persons we are, with all our moods and tempers over which we often have little control. Paul was a product of his emotions and culture as well. The point is that without God and the calling planned for us we are and will always feel isolated even in community. Today’s scripture is a cry for and an example of Christ’s transforming relationship casting out the bitterness of isolation and the violence of oppressive traditions. Both Paul and Martha were disconnected from their calling until God brought their lives back into balance and growth. So, Are We Listening To Our Hearts To Discern Whether We Are Motivated By Duty Or Devotion?
Scripture: You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus. Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days; but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord’s brother. In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie! Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, and I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; they only heard it said, “The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me.
Galatians 1:13-24 (NRSV)
Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42 (NRSV)
Message: Most of us spend way too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important. In other words, you and I may be spending a lot of time getting things done, and not so much about getting the right things done. For above all, we need to set time aside for the important things… the vital things, like God and family. So, at the end of each day, we need to look at how we have spent our time and adjust the allocation as necessary for the next day. We need to get rid of our schedule’s complexities, so we can spend more time on the things that matter. Sounds easy but it is not, for it means fine-tuning some things and eliminating others so we are left with only the ones that add value to our life. And the reality is that during the pandemic a lot of new habits are being formed. Some good and some not so good.
For sure, sometimes the events of life seem to want to steal our time, energy, hope, peace and joy from us. Often it is because of isolation that we feel this way. And sometimes we fall prey this darkness. What is missing is the change in us. Jesus’ response to Martha and Paul was to bring home to them that the fault lay at their own door. They both needed second chances, and both get them. You see, there is always a choice to do what we are intent on doing or to seek what God is doing and join in. Power in ministry as in life is about being aligned with God’s purpose. Sometimes we need to act and sometimes we just need to listen, and it depends on who we are as to the calling. Today we ask if we are motivated and focused by duty or devotion. We ask how we react when we have a loss of focus. Today’s scripture explores these very questions, but it is also about having spiritual ears to hear in a relational way. We see how Martha resorts to self-pity when she becomes out of balance. We see how she becomes angry with others and finds fault and even begins to question God’s care. Out of balance her attitude made her busy but not blessed for a time. But make no mistake in understanding the story, both Mary and Martha learn from the experience and we should too. Here we need to recognize the difference between respect and submission. Here we learn that Mary and Martha have very different shoe sizes and forcing one to walk in the other’s shoes for more than a moment is very uncomfortable. And so here perhaps the first lesson is to learn that we need to stop and become quite before we can listen for the call of God. And the second might be that when we listen to the Holy Spirit, we are to become the message. And the third might just be that we are to listen with our heart, head, hands and holiness in the fullness of what God would have us to do. Friends, here is the message… We are to pause and reflect. We are to stop and listen to the questions of our heart, mind and body. We are to weigh the meaning of what we are experiencing and connect it to scripture, community and mission…and yes freedom and liberty. We are to listen for the message God would have us hear out of what is unknown.
And So, today we have been exploring the social and emotional learning process that is going on in the lives of Paul and Martha that leads them to a more mature relationship with God. It is an inside out process. Paul’s conflict as with Martha’s arises out the fact that they had a corporate personality with responsibilities to people and to God. They had a sense of duty but needed more devotion. The challenge is to see the world through the eyes of love in these situations. We are to walk in shoes that fit but choose a path that speaks to our souls. We are to listen for the sound of truth beyond the surface things. We are to listen with our hearts in balance. Friends, the human spirit stands alone before God but for those who have worked through the pain, a value judgement is made on what is better in how we spend our time. We are to love the calling God has placed on our lives.
Pray we learn from Jesus. Pray we respond to our calling and are transformed by the joy of doing what we were designed to do both in duty and devotion. that our priorities are in order. Pray we rejoice in realizing that the real labor is in becoming perfect in Christ. Pray that our activities are connected to Jesus. Pray that we work with Jesus for His purpose and glory. Pray that we become yoked to God.
Pray that we serve the Lord out of love not habit. Pray that we do not lose focus on what is really needed. Pray that we remember why we are doing what we are doing. Pray that God enables us to do what needs to be done with joy and satisfaction. Pray we grow in the tension and balance between duty and devotion…faith and reason… enlightened by the words of Christ. Pray we decrease so He can increase.
Pray we have faith to stop, look, and listen for God’s promises. Pray we realize that life is about listening to God and putting God’s plan into action. Pray we stop, look and listen for the landmarks of our faith. Pray we listen in the Holy Spirit to the guidance of God. Pray we learn how to listen to God through His Word and through the Holy Spirit and through each other. Pray we learn to listen to others reflecting the Christ in them. Pray we realize that God is always listening to us. Pray that we learn how to communicate with God and with others.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 