February 1, 2009
DAY 15
Posted by KI Contributor
Scripture: Luke 10:38-42
Mary, the Sister of Lazarus, Making Jesus the Priority
Martha worked feverishly to host Jesus in an acceptable manner according to their culture. Martha wasn’t doing anything wrong according to the Jewish culture, which values hospitality. But Jesus gently corrects Martha. Why? Jesus wants transformation more than service. Even though it was not socially acceptable for Mary to refrain from serving, that’s what Christ wants. Mary sat still and absorbed what Christ was offering: A transformed life from the inside out.
So many of us have been programmed by society’s norms to keep busy. We tend to make great jugglers…on the outside at least with work, family, and ministry. We live in a culture of filling in empty time and keeping busy. Could it be that we are not reaping the harvest of blessings that come from sitting at His feet and listening? Maybe sitting still and inviting the counsel of the Holy Spirit will reveal to us what God is doing, so that we don’t have to contrive our own limited schemes. And thereby, we can take part in God’s Dreams, which are more magnificent and fulfilling than we can ever imagine. But we will never see God’s Dreams without regularly stepping away from the rat race of daily life.
What does it mean for people in the 21st century to listen to God? Oftentimes, we think God speaks to us by a “sense.” But we know that the clearest manner in which God speaks to us is the Bible itself. Have you meditated on the Word of God recently? Do you listen daily? Do you give time to pray? So often, we have our time with God by listening to Christian radio stations or CDs. That’s great.
Christian music and radio stations minister to millions. But most of us listen to these stations and CDs while we’re driving or preoccupied. So we do not allow ourselves to get fully consumed by the Spirit of God. Give God your full attention. Sit at His feet and don’t get preoccupied like Martha. Let’s get out of the “busyness” of today’s culture. Let’s make Jesus the priority and see where He takes us. Let’s have Him speak to us in prayer, mediation, and the Holy Scripture.
PRAYER FOCUS: Cambodia
Known as the Killing Fields of the ’70s, Cambodia, with a population of 11 million, faces enormous social needs. Pray for unity and fruit among the Christian workers involved in repairing the damage caused by years of terrible genocide. Pray also that the spiritual darkness of Cambodia will be lifted. With strong Buddhist opposition to ideological rivals, spirit shrines, a thriving sex industry, and rapidly spreading HIV, the light of the Gospel must shine so that Cambodia will be decisively transformed.
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