Thursday, February 26

Turn Off the Radio - Part 4



Intro:
So far, we have talked about the need to be still and slow down. So much competes for our attention. We have seen that God can be known if we will slow down and listen.

Can you be too busy doing the “Lord’s work”? I’ve heard many Christians say, “I’d rather burn out than rust out for the Lord.” That sounds noble but it has always bothered me. Isn’t there a middle option? Isn’t there balance? Isn’t there a way to passionately serve my Lord without burning out?

If the Parado Principle (the 80/20 rule) holds true, then 20% do 80% of the work at church. Our pastors are already working hard and need volunteers to help in the ministry. In deed their ministry is to enable 100% of us to share 100% of the work They need Sunday school teachers, musicians, small group leaders, folks to hand out bulletins or set up the gym … the needs are endless.
How can we serve and not burnout? How do we stay balanced? It has to do with our focus.

Read: Luke 10:38-42
38It happened as they went on their way, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 40But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she came up to him, and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me.”
41Jesus answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Think:
Martha always gets the short end of the stick in this passage. Please note that she is serving! That is very noble. She is making sandwiches for her meeting with Jesus but failing to realize that she is not WITH JESUS. She is so busy making stuff for Him she is not with Him. That is a risk.

We have so many pressures that make us “anxious and troubled” (v.41). The word “anxious” means to “be drawn in different directions, distracted”. Can you identify with that? Are you distracted by many things? Even working for Jesus cannot take the place of spending time with Jesus.

Just like a river that stops flowing, when we do not spend quality time with Jesus we will dry up and start to smell. He is our source of water.

We get the secret to knowing Jesus and finding balance in serving in v.39. It is really so simple we can miss it. Sitting. Did you catch that? Sitting. Slowing down long enough to enjoy Jesus as Lord and Friend. The Greek word means, “sitting alongside”. Mary was sitting close to Him. He was nearing His cross and she knew it. She wanted to enjoy time with Him. So, Mary sat next to Jesus.

That takes time and stillness.


Do:
Maybe you could identify a quiet place and time to sit at the Lord’s side and listen to Him.

Evaluate what you “do for the Lord”. Is it in balance? Maybe you need to do more, maybe less but I’d take it to Jesus and see.

Will you take my challenge to turn off the radio this week? Let’s try to slow down and see if we don’t run into a God that wants us to know Him.

Have a God-revealing week.

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