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to this ministry"Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." But the Lord answered and said to her, Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:38-42).
Last night in our worship service the worship leader made a point about distractions as he opened the service and we prepared our hearts for worship. As he made the challenge I was considering a football game I had been watching before I went to church! I am very easily distracted and can have a difficult time staying focused, particularly on spiritual things.
I identify with Martha so much in the daily Scripture portion. I spend way too much time in the "kitchen"* and can easily get distracted by the stuff of life; the material, visible realm. There is practically always something distracting that lulls me away from "the good part." I really imagine many of you can identify with me.
As I study this portion of Scripture I am especially intrigued with the phrase "Mary has chosen the good part." She made a willful, purposeful choice to sit at the Lord's feet, listening to His Word. She very likely also dealt with distractions but chose to make her major focus taking time to spend with Jesus.
The "good part" is sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to what He has to say. It's focusing on the spiritual, non-visible realm. It's like Mary, who following the birth of her son, Jesus, "treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." It includes reading, studying, meditating and memorizing the Bible along with praise, worship and prayer. It's so great when we do this and we experience the fulfillment and blessing that is at the heart of living the abundant life.
But at least for me the "kitchen" constantly beckons and the distractions return.
There's a song that really reminds me today of where my focus needs to be, although I realistically accept that I will get distracted. As long as I am on this old earth I will deal this. I am so thankful for God's patience and grace. He has time and time again called me back to the heart of worship and He constantly reminds me that it's really all about Him!
When the music fades, all is stripped away,
And I simply come;
Longing just to bring something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart.
I'll bring You more than a song,
For a song in itself is not what You have required.
You search much deeper within, through the way things appear;
You're looking into my heart.
I'm coming back to the heart of worship,
And it's all about You, all about You, Jesus.
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it,
When it's all about You, all about You, Jesus.
King of endless worth,
No one could express
How much You deserve.
Though I'm weak and poor,
All I have is Yours,
Ev'ry single breath. *
Be encouraged today,
Stephen C. Weber
Brooksyne's prayer: Jesus, You know the very intention of my heart. As I invite You to examine my heart, I lay before You the people and pursuits that drive me further away from a heart of worship. You have not removed me bodily from this world, but You have raised me up spiritually to abide in Your presence. As Your presence overshadows me it is there that Your love, joy, peace, and righteousness sustains me and gives me a true heart of worship.
Here is an audio of today's song shared by a friend of ours. "The Heart Of Worship" Redman, Matt © 1997 Kingsway's Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) CCLI License No. 2005306
* Certainly I am speaking of the "kitchen" in a representative sense for the things that distract and take us away from the good part. As I ponder on this subject here are a couple of cautions.
1) Certainly some may be less easily distracted than others and some more spiritually focused but I have seen this become a source of pride and that's also dangerous.
2) I certainly don't believe that Jesus is teaching that all "kitchen work" is wrong. We really need to consider a balance in Biblical teaching and other Scripture teaches the importance and value of work.
3) We have different interests and I have encountered some that feel that their non-spiritual interests are OK and justified but tend to judge the interests of others.
4) Some distractions are God-ordained ministry opportunities.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.
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