The importance of prioritizing our relationship with God and abiding in Christ, as exemplified by Mary in the biblical passage, over worldly distractions and anxieties.
Good morning, Church!
I hope this day finds you blessed and full of the Holy Spirit.
As we gather today, I am reminded of a quote by A.W. Tozer, "The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One." Isn't that a beautiful thought?
Let's turn our hearts and minds now to the Word of God, specifically Luke 10:38-41. If you have your Bibles, please open them with me. It reads:
"Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.' But the Lord answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.'"
This passage, my brothers and sisters, speaks volumes about the importance of abiding in Christ, the differing examples of Mary and Martha, and the unique blessing of choosing the good portion.
Let's bow our heads in prayer.
Father, we thank You for Your Word that brings life and light into our hearts. We ask for Your wisdom and understanding as we delve into this passage. Open our hearts and minds to truly grasp the significance of abiding in You above all else. In Your precious name we pray, amen.
Now, let's dive deep into this rich passage together.
The story of Mary and Martha is a tale that underscores the importance of choosing the right priorities in our spiritual walk. The narrative presents two sisters with two distinct approaches to their interaction with Jesus. Martha, the ever-dutiful hostess, is consumed with serving, while Mary chooses to sit at Jesus' feet, absorbing His teachings. The contrast between the two sisters is stark and serves as a powerful lesson for us.
Making Him the center of our lives: It's about choosing to sit at His feet, figuratively speaking, and learn from Him. It's about prioritizing our relationship with Him above all else. Mary understood this. She knew that the opportunity to learn from Jesus was far more valuable than any other task she could be doing. Her choice to sit at Jesus' feet was a conscious decision to prioritize her relationship with Christ above all else.
Martha wasn’t doing something bad: This is not to say that Martha's service was wrong. In fact, service is a crucial aspect of our Christian walk. However, the problem arises when we allow our service to distract us from our relationship with Christ. Martha was so consumed with her service that she missed out on the opportunity to sit at Jesus' feet. Her focus was on the task at hand, not on Christ. This is a trap that many of us fall into. We become so engrossed in our service, our work, our tasks, that we neglect our relationship with Christ.
Constantly in communion with Him: It means that we are continually seeking His guidance, His wisdom, and His presence in our lives. It's about making Him the center of our lives, not just a part of our lives. When we abide in Christ, we are able to draw from His strength, His wisdom, and His love. We are able to navigate through life's challenges with His guidance.
Constantly growing in our relationship with Him: Just as Mary sat at Jesus' feet to learn from Him, we too must continually seek to learn from Christ. This means spending time in His Word, in prayer, and in fellowship with other believers. It's about constantly seeking to know Him more and to grow in our understanding of Him.
Easy to get caught up in our tasks and responsibilities: It's easy to become like Martha, consumed with our service and distracted from Christ. However, the story of Mary and Martha serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of abiding in Christ. It reminds us that our relationship with Christ should be our top priority. It reminds us that we should always choose to sit at Jesus' feet, to learn from Him, and to make Him the center of our lives.
"Distracted with much serving:" Her focus was on the tasks at hand, rather than on the One who was in her home ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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