I just sat down to ask the Lord what was on his mind. A number of years ago I realized he already knew what was on my mind. Though I do pray about all the things my life touches I perhaps am learning to spend more time asking Him what’s on His mind.
As soon as I sat I heard come and sit at my feet. Immediately I thought of the story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10. It’s the story how Martha is busy serving and Mary is sitting at Jesus feet. Martha goes to Jesus to convince Him that Mary should be serving and not sitting, That’s pretty funny that Martha tries to convince Jesus that he needs to straight out Mary. If we are willing to admit it there are times when we pray and we try and convince the Lord to “enlighten” other people to what they should and should not be doing. Martha is busy, busy serving and this is a trap we all can fall into. We can get so caught up in busyness that just like Martha we get distracted. Here’s the account in Luke 10:
Christmas is such a beautiful time of year. Yet it can easily become the season that we fall into the Martha trapdo this and do that. Perhaps as we approach 2021 we can all purpose in our hearts to follow the response that Jesus gave to Martha. Luke 10:41-42 “And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” How true is that? We get caught up in doing and doing we can easily be ensnared with being worried and troubled by even the smallest thing. We need to break the cycle of “habitual living”. We need to follow the counsel of Eli who gave these instructions to Samuel when Samuel was hearing God call him. 1Samuel 3:9 “ Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.” A short period of time goes by and this occurs in verse 10.
It takes desire and discipline to learn how to stop the busyness of our lives and sit with Jesus and say, “speak”, for your son, daughter is here and we are willing to listen and then to live out what is being said to us. A good word for 2021 - “Come sit at my feet”.
0 Comments
In Hebrews 4:15 it says that Jesus understands our humanity. It's overwhelming to know that no matter what we go through Jesus understands.
This Christmas Eve I along with others have the privilege of serving in a homeless shelter. I’m thinking how could Jesus identify with this. Then I remember the story of His birth. Mary and Joseph traveled 90 miles to get too Bethlehem. It took them between 4 and seven days. It is believed it took closer to 7 because of Mary being so far along in her pregnancy. When they arrive all the “hotels” were full. So Jesus was born in a stable. A person who is homeless is like Jesus at his birth they have no where they can go. For many they live under an overpass to escape the winter elements or in the woods or perhaps an abandon building. In Matthew 8:20 it says that Jesus had no place to lay his head. Jesus has the incredible compassion and understanding of knowing how people really feel when they have no place to live. There are numerous scriptures that say that Jesus was rejected. It is one of the saddest things I have seen first hand is how homeless people are rejected and dis posed. You might not be homeless but whatever you’ve been through or going through our High Priest can totally understand… Jesus thank you… Musing: A season called “new” has arrived
For the past few weeks I have had this sense that during this Christmas that as Jesus was born his birth ushered in a whole new era. Grace replaced the law. Man’s relationship with God went from do’s and dont’s to having a real tangible relationship. My sense is the Holy Spirit is going to birth something new inside of all of us as a gift. It’s a gift not something we have eared or deserve. It is simply our Father lavishing his love and affection on his children. There is wind blowing. Can you feel it? I Can see angels rejoicing as they did at the birth of Jesus. They see the Father raising his hands and speaking “A NEW SEASON HAS BEGUN”. Will we receive it? Will we? Sit for a moment and allow the wind blow over you… It has been less than a week that our “Homeless Shelter” has been open and already my heart has been broken on 2 different evenings. I serve from 11:00pm to 7:00am. For the most part it is quiet until about 6:00am. It is during this time that these extraordinary people will often wake up to use the bathrooms and sometimes they just can’t sleep. Our guests will often begin talking to our staff. The other time they will talk is in the morning just before they leave.
As they share it often brings tears to your eyes. When you truly listen to these precious people it’s hard not to break down as they share their tragic stories. As I listen I can feel the Holy Spirit working on my heart. He continues to place more compassion, grace and mercy into my life while continuing to remove an attitude of judgement amongst other carnal attitudes and opinions. You have to wonder how we would have responded and where we would be today if the circumstances that occurred in their lives occurred in our lives. While they are talking there is also another voice taking the opportunity to speak. One thing I have heard very clearly that I have heard before is, “put away your rocks.” In John 8:2-5 we find the story of how the religious leaders brought a woman to him who was caught in adultery and they wanted to stone her.
If you remember the story Jesus bent down and started writing something on the ground. I wonder what awe was writing? It says they continued to ask what he would do. Then he said to them:
Jesus continued to write and then they one by one began to leave.
Essentially they put away their rocks. May I encourage each of us to allow the Holy Spirit to take us to a deeper place where we don’t even pick up our rocks… Musing: Giving your life away
I truly hope you have discovered the joy of giving your life away. If Jesus came to serve shouldn’t we do likewise? Jesus served:
Yes, I know there are seasons in our lives that we might not be serving but there are also seasons that we are being called to serve. Paul served:
Have you heard the Macedonian Call? It is calling to each of us.
Can you hear “Come over to Macedonia (name your location) and help us.” Have you heard that you are in needed as Jesus told his disciples that the donkey for him to ride on was needed?
Are you looking for joy? Perhaps we need to consider: John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” Giving your life away is our calling… |
AuthorPastor Brian R. Weeks began ministering in 1972 and has served as a pastor to both youth and young adults. He also served as an associate pastor for eleven years, and then for 25 years as a senior pastor, apostolic missionary, and church planter. In March of 2017 he released his church Solomon’s Porch, but in order to remain part of the local church, continues to serve among its several pastors. Archives
January 2022
|