Grace and Peace to you!
In the days of Abraham, it was a custom, even a sacred duty, to extend full hospitality to a visitor, which certainly included a meal. In many cultures that custom has prevailed through to today.
In Genesis 18, we can read of how Abraham treated his visitors. He provided water for them to wash their feet, had curds and milk and meat from one of his calves brought to his guests as they rested in the shade of a tree.
In Luke 10, we can read of when Jesus visited Mary and Martha. Martha was quite busy with the details of hosting while Mary sat at the feet of Jesus. Martha probably didn’t have to prepare a fatted calf, but with so many arriving at their home, she certainly had her hands full trying to make their visit to their home a pleasant one. On the one hand, she loved the Lord; on the other, she accepted the obligation of a hostess. When she became overwhelmed in bearing the burden of hostess, she approached Jesus and asked him to have her sister give a hand with the work of hosting.
Jesus responds to Martha’s request by saying that Martha was “worried and distracted by many things”. Another away to look at this is that Jesus was telling Martha that she was “being pulled in all directions.”
I think that many people can relate to Martha’s feeling of being pulled in all directions. In such times we would be wise to remember that there is a physical side of life and a spiritual side of life, and for as long as we wake up every morning, we need to keep them in proper balance. Yes, there are times when we need to attend to the details of the day. But there are also times when we need to attend to the needs of our soul. Otherwise, we are liable to become full-time religious philosophers or stressed out workaholics burning the candle at both ends.
The best way is to plan your devotions and prayer time into your daily agenda and stick to it. If you can’t squeeze everything in, then let something else go. We don’t need to do it all, but we do need to keep the good portion that Mary has chosen – the quiet times at the feet of Jesus. How much time? For some, it is a few minutes reading a page in a devotional booklet and a prayer in the morning (both congregations have copies of devotional booklets available for the taking). For others it may be an hour that also includes Bible reading and study. Try and see what works for you.
It will deepen your personal relationship with the Lord, enrich your faith, reward you with joy and balance that we so desperately need in our busy and stressful lives.
Let Jesus soothe your anxious heart with the assurance of his love and care for you. Let his special peace settle upon you. Let Jesus’ strength encourage you and tender compassion comfort you. Let the light of Christ be your guide and truth keep you in the brightness of hope. Let our Lord’s faithful word give you confidence. All this will be yours, when you sit at the feet of Jesus.
In Christ,
Pastor Bakker
[Jesus said to his disciples,] "Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?"
Luke 12:24-25 (NRSV)
Grace and Peace to you!
In the days of Abraham, it was a custom, even a sacred duty, to extend full hospitality to a visitor, which certainly included a meal. In many cultures that custom has prevailed through to today.
In Genesis 18, we can read of how Abraham treated his visitors. He provided water for them to wash their feet, had curds and milk and meat from one of his calves brought to his guests as they rested in the shade of a tree.
In Luke 10, we can read of when Jesus visited Mary and Martha. Martha was quite busy with the details of hosting while Mary sat at the feet of Jesus. Martha probably didn’t have to prepare a fatted calf, but with so many arriving at their home, she certainly had her hands full trying to make their visit to their home a pleasant one. On the one hand, she loved the Lord; on the other, she accepted the obligation of a hostess. When she became overwhelmed in bearing the burden of hostess, she approached Jesus and asked him to have her sister give a hand with the work of hosting.
Jesus responds to Martha’s request by saying that Martha was “worried and distracted by many things”. Another away to look at this is that Jesus was telling Martha that she was “being pulled in all directions.”
I think that many people can relate to Martha’s feeling of being pulled in all directions. In such times we would be wise to remember that there is a physical side of life and a spiritual side of life, and for as long as we wake up every morning, we need to keep them in proper balance. Yes, there are times when we need to attend to the details of the day. But there are also times when we need to attend to the needs of our soul. Otherwise, we are liable to become full-time religious philosophers or stressed out workaholics burning the candle at both ends.
The best way is to plan your devotions and prayer time into your daily agenda and stick to it. If you can’t squeeze everything in, then let something else go. We don’t need to do it all, but we do need to keep the good portion that Mary has chosen – the quiet times at the feet of Jesus. How much time? For some, it is a few minutes reading a page in a devotional booklet and a prayer in the morning (both congregations have copies of devotional booklets available for the taking). For others it may be an hour that also includes Bible reading and study. Try and see what works for you.
It will deepen your personal relationship with the Lord, enrich your faith, reward you with joy and balance that we so desperately need in our busy and stressful lives.
Let Jesus soothe your anxious heart with the assurance of his love and care for you. Let his special peace settle upon you. Let Jesus’ strength encourage you and tender compassion comfort you. Let the light of Christ be your guide and truth keep you in the brightness of hope. Let our Lord’s faithful word give you confidence. All this will be yours, when you sit at the feet of Jesus.
In Christ,
Pastor Bakker
[Jesus said to his disciples,] "Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?"
Luke 12:24-25 (NRSV)
