Community Devotions

Distracted with much Serving

39And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40But Martha was distracted with much serving. (Luke 10:39-40a)

 Serving can be a distraction. No matter how noble or how well intentioned it can be it can distract us from “the one thing that is necessary”. Often times due to time constraints or priorities on has to choose between serving or worship, ministry or prayer. Mary chose the good portion (The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup – Ps. 16:5).

I have been so busy lately that I have to admit that I have been distracted with much. I have been choosing to serve instead of sitting at the Lord’s feet. Serving & worship are not necessarily in dichotomy. With proper time management and discipline we can have both. But when push comes to shove, the Lord is my portion. I choose to sit at his feet.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for speaking to me this morning to ratchet back to you especially at the start of this new year. Lord, remind me not to take on too much so that I am distracted with much serving. May I always choose to sit at your feet and worship you. Forgive my lack of commitment to prayer and solitude. I love you. I need you. Maranatha. Amen.

Christmas was just the beginning

The birth of Christ is definitely "good news of great joy...for all people" (Luke 2:10). Yet Jesus did not remain a baby. His birth was only the beginning. Jesus grew to be a man "in wisdom and in stature" (Luke 2:52). He lived a life of perfection in order to fulfill the law, died our death on the cross as a payment for our sin and was resurrected from the dead to cause, "us to be born again to a living hope" (1 Pet. 1:3).

Still it does not end there. He ascended to sit on the right hand of the Father so that the Holy Spirit may come to empower us to be His witnesses here on earth. Pastor Mark Batterson succinctly captures this initial work of Christmas, "at Bethlehem, He is GOD WITH US. At Calvary, He is GOD IS FOR US. At Pentecost, He is GOD IN US". Seen in this light, we realize the triune work of God in our great salvation!