Be A Mary

Do you worry about many things? Do you strive to ensure everything is just so? Are you continually trying to please everyone? Do you often feel as though you have no help? Are you distracted by doing rather than being?

We are often distracted by doing. We listen to others, whether friends, family, or media and think we must do what is popular. Our lives are filled with lists of tasks. That’s not to say that all tasks should be ignored. It is to say that we often put unimportant tasks on our plates.

So, what is important? I venture to say most of us can list what is truly important, if we will simply slow down long enough to think about it. We will say that our relationship with God is important. We will say that spending eternity with Him is important. But we also likely throw in a “but” after we say that.

That single word tells the listener there is an exception to the importance. It says there are other things we feel as though we must attend to first. It says we have put those other tasks ahead of what we deem truly important and we have our own reasoning for doing so. This is what is meant by the saying, “Living like Martha.”

Don’t misunderstand. I know there are things we need to do in this life in order to live it. Yet, we often put far more tasks higher on our priority list than our relationship with God. Think not? Watching a television show is often a higher priority than reading our Bible. Eating is often more important than taking a minute to pray beforehand. Buying something we want is more important than contributing to the church.

We are being Martha’s rather than Mary’s. Who is Mary? She recognized who Jesus was and spent time at Jesus’ feet listening to His teaching and worshiping Him. Mary knew her relationship with Jesus was more important than dinner being served at a specific time. She had set her priority on Jesus.

Now, I don’t believe that God wants us to totally abandon the tasks on our list. I do believe He wants us to spend time with Him each day, growing closer to Him, and becoming more like His Son. God knows us. He knows when we make lame excuses for not spending time with Him. He knows when He is a priority to us and when He is discarded. Notice, Jesus says that Mary chose what was better and it would never be taken from her.

I pray we all spend time with God each day. I pray we grow closer to Him. I pray each one of us read God’s Word and pray each day of our lives, making Him our priority. Read your Bible. Spend time in prayer. Sing praises to God. Choose what is truly important. Experience the abundant life. Be a Mary.

Luke 10:41-42 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

The Ultimate Goal

Is there a goal you have been chasing for quite some time? Have you grown weary of pursuing it? Are you ready to give up on it? Are you sure you are pursuing the correct goal? Would you like to have the energy you need to pursue the correct goal for you?

We set many goals throughout our lives. Some goals are small and short-term. Some goals are much larger and long-term and can take years to accomplish. It is the long-term goal that we can grow weary of chasing.

As we chase long-term goals, especially those that take years to accomplish, we need encouragement to continue. Long-term pursuit requires persistence, discipline, and planning. We typically plan short-term goals that support the long-term goal in order to track our progress and make course corrections as needed along the way. The same is required in our Christian walk.

As we pursue becoming more like Jesus, we know it won’t happen overnight. Even those who may have an enlightened change suddenly must continue to work at continuing on that path. It requires work on our part, the same as if we made a conscious decision to pursue the change over time.

We see the apostle Paul telling the Philippians that he had not achieved his goal. He says he continues to pursue becoming like Jesus—a worthy goal. We should have the same goal as Paul. Our desire should be to become more like Jesus. We know it won’t come quickly and will require discipline.

What is a key component of our pursuit? Paul states we are to forget our past. It doesn’t mean we forget the lessons we learned, but we are not to focus on our past failures. Instead, we are to focus on the next step, the next day, the next week, and the future path as we continue our pursuit of walking the path God would have us walk.

Our goal is not only to be more like Jesus in this life, but it is a goal that God has called us to. That goal is to spend eternity with Jesus Christ. The pursuit of that goal includes being in awe of what He did for us, loving Him, and focusing our efforts as directed by Him.

I pray we all pursue eternity in heaven. I pray we focus on the future God has in mind for us. I pray each of us ask God for the persistence and discipline we need to continue our pursuit. Be in awe of God. Love God for who He is. Pursue being like Jesus. Ask God to help you. Trust He knows what is best for you.

Philippians 3:12-13 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Access to Riches

Are you jealous when others are rewarded? Do you envy the accomplishments of other people? Do you know that, if you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, you already have an inheritance beyond imagination? Do you celebrate that?

We see more jealousy in this world than we would like to see. People will react in some of the strangest ways out of jealousy. We see people who are envious of others taking action, sometimes falsely accusing others, to bring successful people down.

This world competes for wealth and notoriety as though it is the ultimate goal. Competition begins at a young age and continues throughout a person’s life. It takes on every form imaginable under the sun. And yet, we see more people suffering from depression than ever before. Is there a better way?

There is a better way. We have access to the riches of heaven through Jesus Christ. We can overcome this world through Him. Actually, we have already overcome this world, if we will only accept it.

As Jesus states in His parable of the lost son, the one who stayed home has everything the Father has. So long as we hold on to Jesus, stay with the Father, we have everything at our disposal. We are heirs to the kingdom.

We often think of that as being sometime in the future. Yet, we have access to it right now. Unfortunately, we often become more like the son who took off to do things his own way, rather than staying with the Father in His kingdom. Therefore, we lose access, or forget we have access, to the riches of the Father.

We can access the riches of God’s kingdom through prayer. Our faith in Him grants us the opportunity through prayer to ask God for anything we need. He is our ultimate source of wealth—wealth beyond our imagination.

I pray we all access the riches of heaven through prayer. I pray we reach out to God in faith for what we need. I pray each one of us will trade our jealousy toward others for the wealth we already have. Leave jealousy behind. Do not envy others. Access the riches of heaven. Know that you are in the kingdom of God. Trust God. Trust your Savior.

Luke 15:31-32 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Joy of Repentance

Do you sometimes wish you were celebrated by others? Would you like to have someone rejoice over something you did? Do you want others to recognize a decision you made? Do you know there is a decision you can make that will cause angels to rejoice?

We see people in this world seeking their “five minutes of fame.” They will do almost anything to get it, including some outlandish things. For some people, it is a simple matter of seeking attention. They are starving for attention.

Others are looking for long-term recognition. They are striving to be in the spotlight on a regular basis. They long to be in a position of power. They want others to coo over them, tell them how wonderful they are, tell them their decisions are great and wise.

When we decide to be part of God’s family, when we repent, the angels in heaven rejoice. Not only that, but I’ve seen many people cry happy tears when they attend someone’s baptism. It is a very moving and wonderful event.

Unfortunately, many of us leave it at that. We forget that we can continue to feel those wondrous feelings as we serve God. We think it is a one-time thing. Yet, Jesus doesn’t say the angels only celebrate once. Could it be they celebrate each time we repent?

Think about this for just a moment. Repenting includes not simply confessing our sin, but also turning away from it. Now, isn’t that something to celebrate? If our sin is treating God’s children horribly and repent, I believe the angels celebrate. First, there is one of us who is now treating God’s children well. Second, there are children of God who are no longer being treated badly. Isn’t that something to celebrate? One more win for God.

I’m sure all of us can think of many different sins in our lives. It may be something as minor as telling a half-truth or as egregious as assault. A sin is a sin and each one of them cost Jesus the pain and suffering on the cross. Our sin forced God to send His Son as our perfect sacrifice. Each sin is giving in to Satan. Repenting of on our part is a battle won for God over Satan and a win for us, even though the war has already been won.

I pray we all make a decision to turn to God. I pray we repent of our sin, turning away from it. I pray each one of us experience the joy of leaving sin behind and remember the angels in heaven rejoice when we do. Turn from your sin. Rejoice with angels. Know that angels are rejoicing over you. Experience the joy of repentance.

Luke 15:10 “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Intercessor

Are there times when you wish someone would intervene on your behalf? Do you wish someone would defend you? Would it be nice if someone would speak what you won’t speak for yourself? Do you know there is someone who does just that?

Many times, we are in situations where we are accused of something and feel defenseless. Perhaps we are guilty and perhaps we are not. In either case, we want someone who will defend us. Our desire is to have someone stand up for us.

There are also times when we would like to speak up and yet we are afraid to do so. We feel we will be laughed at, ridiculed, or ostracized. In those times, we wish there was someone to stand by our side and give us courage to speak out.

We have someone available to us that is always there who will strengthen us when we feel weak. He will help us defend ourselves or give us courage to admit our guilt. He will speak on our behalf when we don’t know what to say.

God’s Holy Spirit is that someone. Since He is also God, He knows how speak in words that God understands. As a gift from the Son, who was also human, the Holy Spirit knows how to interpret our human emotions, desires, failings, misunderstandings, and confusion.

The Holy Spirit is our Intercessor, Defender, Interpreter, Helper, and Advisor. He speaks both to us and for us. He speaks both for God and to God. He is our immediate access to God. He knows us from the inside out. He knows more about us than we know ourselves.

It is when we rely on Him that we make progress toward becoming more like the Son, Jesus. When we confess we don’t know and ask for help, the Holy Spirit relays our message to the Father and guides us along the way. Isn’t it comforting to know you have a Helper?

I pray we all come to rely on the Holy Spirit. I pray we confess our shortcomings to Him and listen for His guidance. I pray each of us grow to rely on the Holy Spirit. You have an Intercessor. He is always with you. Trust Him to be your Defender. Trust the guidance He provides.

Romans 8:26-27 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to prayfor, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

Trust the Witnesses

Do you want people to know who you are? Does it make you feel good when someone recognizes you for something you have done? Do you recognize other people for who they are? Does status mean a lot to you?

We see people chasing after status in this world. They look to gain a new title. People are looking to be recognized when they walk down the street. We sometimes hear people say they are disappointed when others, perhaps strangers, didn’t recognize them.

There seems to be a constant chasing after fame and fortune. Even those who say they don’t want to be in the spotlight feel good when they are recognized. Our human nature is to feel good when others recognize us for who we are or what we have accomplished.

Do you recognize God? Do you recognize Jesus? Do you have a full appreciation for what He has done for you? Far too many in this world don’t have a full appreciation for what God has done for them. They simply don’t know.

Why don’t they know? In many cases, they have never been taught. That seems strange to those of us who know God. Yet, many in this world only know God’s name and not really what He has done. God is someone a celebrity might mention, but nothing more.

The apostles were able to spend about three years with Jesus. They saw firsthand His miracles. They heard His lessons in person. The recognized something about Him that no one else had. They knew Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, the Christ, the Savior of the world.

For us today, it may be a little harder for us to understand, since we don’t see Him face-to-face. Yet, we listen to witnesses all the time. People who tell us they saw something happen or heard something said. We trust them. So, why don’t we trust the witness of the apostles?

The Bible is full of eyewitness accounts of what God has done. We see how He set up the coming of Jesus through the people of Israel. We are told about Jesus in the gospels. We see how the church spread and what the basis for its growth was in the letters of the New Testament. We should take the eyewitness accounts in the Bible as serious as we take an eyewitness account of a crime being heard in our courts.

I pray we all read the eyewitness accounts in the Bible. I pray we take them seriously. I pray each one of us apply the truth of the Bible in our lives. Recognize Jesus for who He is. Trust the eyewitness accounts. Know the truth. Apply the truths of the Bible in your life.

Luke 9:18-20 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”

Restart

Do you want to belong to the family of God? Do you want to be part of the body of Christ? Do you wonder what you need to do? Do you understand it is a new beginning, a new birth? Are you looking for a new start?

Many of us have thought at some point or another that we would like to start over. We have done things we would like to eliminate from our history. There are some pieces of our past we are ashamed of and don’t talk about. Do you know there is an option to restart?

There is no need to continue living with shame. We don’t need to live with guilt. Jesus came to eliminate those from our lives. He came to provide us with an abundant life, one that gives us joy, peace, and love. It is accessible to us.

Some will say, “Yeah, but you have to do so-so.” Unfortunately, they are misguided. It is true that Jesus doesn’t intend to leave you as you are today. Yet, we are not required to make drastic changes immediately. God is far smarter than we are, and He knows we won’t change at the snap of our fingers.

Sure, we should spend time with His family, learning more about Him. Yup, we need to make changes in our lives over time. It is absolutely true that we won’t be the same person as we make the changes He wants us make. Yet, it will happen over time, likely years.

The real question for each of us is, are we willing to take the first step? The first step is to be made new in Jesus. We are to be born again. For some, that comes with negative connotations. Again, that is a misunderstanding and the true meaning contains none of those.

As we are born again, or reborn, into the body of Christ, our past sins are washed away as if we took a shower after working outside in the mud all day. Not only that, but we continue to be washed clean each following day. Isn’t that a comforting thought?

We want renewal. We want to start over. We have the option to do just that. Does it mean we will be perfect immediately? No. It does mean we will be made perfect in the end. It means we will spend eternity with God as a perfect person in a perfect place.

I pray we all decide to be reborn. I pray we choose to be part of God’s family. I pray each one of us will decide on renewal and are willing to begin the change God wants for us. Accept the gift of Christ. Accept the joy, peace, and love God has waiting for you. Be born again.

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”

Wise Decisions

Do you desire to bring joy to your parents? Would you like to see them rejoice over you? Do you know what it takes to make them proud of you? Do you understand what it is your parents want for you? Is it not to be wise and successful?

I believe most of us want to please our parents. We want them to be proud of us. We want to please them and hear their praise in our ears. Yet, too often we don’t always make decisions with that in mind. What should be our guidance for making decisions that will result in our parents being proud of us?

As we see in today’s passage, parents look for their child to be righteous and wise. This passage is as true today as it was when it was written thousands of years ago. Parents want their children to do the right things. They want their children to make good decisions. How can children go about doing that?

Parents should not make all the decisions for a child as they grow up. Parents need to teach their children to make decisions for themselves. This means walking a young child through the decision-making process, helping them see the consequences of the choices, and allowing them to decide. This may mean the child suffers a setback from the decision. Yet, this will impart wisdom on the child for making future decisions.

You may think this a bit harsh. As a good parent, you won’t allow a young child to make a decision that can harm them badly. Yet, you need to allow them to make decisions that may not produce good results and allow them to feel the negative consequences. This may mean they are allowed to stay up late when they must get up early the next day. It may mean allowing them to choose their lunch, knowing they won’t really like it.

As children grow older, the decision-making process they learn when younger will stick with them. They will look at the options, weigh the consequences, and make a decision that best fits their goals. When parents and children work together on decision-making when they are young, the child will continue to ask for the parent’s advice as they grow older. The parent must be careful, especially as the children grow older, to not make the decision for the child, but help point out the consequences truthfully.

I pray we all teach our children to make wise decisions. I pray we allow them to make their own decisions. I pray each of us follow a collaborative decision-making process. Teach wisdom. Reach out to your parents. Make the wise decision. Be collaborative. Bring joy to your parents. Trust God in all decisions.

Proverbs 23:24-25

The father of a righteous child has great joy;

a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. 

May your father and mother rejoice;

may she who gave you birth be joyful!

All For All

Are you put out by people who don’t carry their share of the load? Would you like to energize them in some way? Or, would you prefer they leave your presence and not return? Do you not know that all of us have a part to play?

We often get upset when we are working hard toward a goal for our company, organization, or church and there are some who just don’t seem to be doing their part. We complain about them, but not to their face. We grumble to our leaders about them. We plea for the leaders to do something about the laggards.

Have you stopped to think that perhaps you should do something? No, you can’t fire them, and you probably aren’t in a position to tell them to leave and not come back. Yet, you are in a position to encourage them. Ask them to assist you with a task you have. Then praise them for helping. You might be surprised how that positive impact works on them. Oh, you may not see a 180-degree turnabout on the first try, but you will see improvement as you continue this tack.

You see, we are to love one another, take care of one another, and encourage one another. When we do these things, we see improvement in one another and our team. Sure, we might run into someone who is absolutely obstinate. If we do, and we’ve made several attempts with them, then we go to the leader and ask for help. But why not try to help ourselves by helping others first?

In the end, we are responsible for our own actions. Even if we decide we don’t want to help others, we certainly are not to set on the sidelines and complain about them. That puts us in the same boat with them. We are no better. Even if we are working.

On the other hand, if we see someone is working hard, doing a good job, we should acknowledge them. This is encouragement for the one taking on the hard tasks. It will boost their energy, make them feel appreciated, and will also increase our team productivity.

I pray we all become encouragers. I pray we recognize those who are working hard. I pray each one of us stops our complaining and encourages those we want to complain about to join in doing the work. Be an encourager. Recognize the hard worker. Encourage those who are disheartened. Do not return wrong for wrong. Strive to be good to everyone.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-15 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

Selfishness or Success

Are you looking for a step-by-step program that will guide you into a prosperous life? Do you want a checklist for being productive? Have you read self-improvement books to find them? Have you looked at the book that contains the secret to a good life?

I believe the majority of us are looking for guidance in some fashion or another. We may not always admit we need it. In fact, we often deny we need advice at all. We like to think we have it all together and we know exactly what we need to do to be happy.

Unfortunately, when we think we know it all, we are usually deceiving ourselves. It is our own desires driving our thought process. That is not say all our desires are bad. Yet, they can be selfish and lead us astray. They can also cause us to be rude and mean spirited toward others.

In today’s passage, Peter gives us the step-by-step process we need to live a successful life. No, it isn’t a “get rich quick” scheme. It is a process that will guide us to a long life of joy, peace, and calm. It is a process that will develop us into a person who is respected by everyone who knows us. It is a process we should follow, if we desire to make a positive impact on this world.

Though the process is provided in a short list, it is not one that can be accomplished quickly and easily. We will need to work at it every day. We will need to ask God to help us each step of the way. The process requires us to set aside our selfish desires in order to be who we want to be.

Isn’t that an interesting dichotomy? To be who we want to be we must set aside our selfish desires. We have these two opposing desires raging within us. We want immediate satisfaction and we want long-term success. Unfortunately, we typically can’t have both.

As Peter states, there is a proven process for long-term success. It isn’t easy. It isn’t quick. But it is worth every bit of our effort and sacrifices. It isn’t something we can do on our own, but God is there to help us each step of the way.

I pray we all seek respect and long-term success. I pray we seek God’s help as we live our lives. I pray each one of us will follow the process Peter lays out for us. Set aside selfishness for success. Seek God’s guidance. Follow the proven process. You can be successful with God’s help.

2 Peter 1:5-8 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.