Everyone has bad days; days where you just feel cranky, annoyed, and stressed out. You'll flip out on anyone, for no apparent reason. Well, you're not alone. Everyone has bad days, including a lady named Martha, who was a friend of Jesus. Jesus and his disciples were coming over to Martha and her sister, Mary's house. Martha should have been rejoicing and worshiping God like her sister Mary was doing, instead she was running around the house, trying to get things perfect for Jesus. Martha was furious that her sister was just sitting there, at Jesus' feet, not doing anything, so she went up to God, and said, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me". God simply answered, "Martha, Martha, 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".
Mary had made the better choice because she demonstrated a heart devoted to God by worshiping him and hearing his word. She also did her fair share of work, but made sure that she had the time to take care of her devotion and commitment to God. I know that some of us are very busy people and think that we don't have enough time to devote to God. There are many ways that we can have time for God. Would you be willing to
say no to watching a TV show?
say no to hanging out with your friends?
say no to going to a movie, so you can
say yes to spending time with God.
In Revelation 3:15-16, God says, " I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth." In this scripture, you know which heart condition God thinks is the worst. To be coldhearted means to be unemotional, unconscious of God. To be lukewarm, means to be indifferent. The third heat temperature is to be hot-hearted. Hot-hearted means that the heat of your and emotion reaches a high temperature. Such high heat is usually paired with violent activity, emotion, excitement, and passion. Which is the heart of someone [you!] who's committed to God. Which one do you want to be? I think the obvious choice is number three!
Reading: Luke 10:38-42
Reflecting:
How can you make time to devote to God?
Compare the two sisters. What are the differences between the words they say, their actions, attitudes, and interactions with Jesus?
If you were in Mary and Martha's position, do you think you would be more like Martha or Mary? If you were like Martha how can you change that?
Do you consider yourself to be hot cold-hearted, lukewarm, or hot-hearted? If you're not hot-hearted, which one do you think you are? How can you change that?
[...] Martha and Mary [...]
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