"An Appointment With Intimacy— (... And God Cried!)”

Richthofen was good. Probably over-confident. But he “broke one of his own rules.” Maybe in his mind he was just stretching the rule a bit. Or he was distracted by something that appeared too good to be true. Whatever the case, he compromised his own standards, which led to his demise. For the Red Baron, the temptation of number 81 was too much.

The temptation always exists in ministry to focus on the wrong things, forget where you are, and stretch, or compromise, our own rules. It is easy to be distracted by “the numbers” or something else. There are always new gimmicks that will try to lure us away from our first love. You are a target of the enemy. Don’t lose your primary focus. Keep the main thing the main thing. “Fix your thoughts on Jesus” (Heb. 3:1, NIV).

The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.

(Source unknown)

And so, Martha gave her attention to Jesus, as the elder sister, in fact, she welcomed our Lord in their home. And He entered and Jesus honoured the attention that the family gave Him. Look what happened next in verse40.... “But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. "Master, don't you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand."’ Not an intimate attention she gave to Jesus. You see, when you would not give your full attention to God? You would be distracted, and worst is you even coach or advise God! And tell Him you are far more better than Him! Martha instructing Jesus what to do! You can just imagine Martha, directing The Beginning of everything?

Jesus would surely give His 100% attention to you if you have focused and set your attention on Him! And it would not be taken from you, it would be eternal and far beyond eternity!

Jesus had given us in His discourse on the Mount. Matthew 6:26 BEHOLD (pay attention to ) the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. ARE YE NOT MUCH BETTER THAN THEY?

A challenge for all of us!

Focus and Father God goes hand in hand.

Father + Focus ( intimate attention) = Bright Future! Matthew 6: 34 and Jeremiah 29:11 in action indeed....

When Mary gave here Appointed Intimate Time and Attention without any distraction.... see the result in John 11.... And the only thing that’s essential, she had chosen it--it was not taken away from her when the proper time, in a time of their bereavement, a time of uncertainty, a time full of questions, a time of loneliness and brokenness... Her tears became Jesus’ tears! Time to honour her and respect her for that...

Now, ....and Jesus’ wept.

Attention will fully affect our behavior and principles of life....

3- INTIMATE RESPECT:

Out of an appointed Intimate Time and Attention comes Respect.

Stephen gained our Lord’s respect by standing on His Throne.

Mary earned Jesus’ respect by weeping. The Lord sees the dilemma of mankind. He saw history.... the pitfall of all men beginning from Adam until that moment. Face to face with death. That’s why He groaned.