Day 22
Today’s passages
Luke 10:38-42, John 14:28
Experience
Do you find it strange that Jesus rebuked Martha for doing good things? There she was, cooking and cleaning and serving Jesus, and we read that Jesus tells her she’s completely missing the point. Don’t get me wrong, Martha’s hospitality makes her kindness and servant’s heart very obvious, and those gifts can be used to the glory of God. But in those moments, Jesus told her she needed to stop doing those good things. What’s the deal with that?
Our entire lives have but one purpose: to follow God. He calls us to imitate Christ and make Him the goal and purpose of our lives. But oftentimes we find it so easy to claim that we’re living for God just because our day planners are filled with things we do for Him. And even though doing good things for Jesus is, well, a good thing, it must be blanketed by true obedience. Jesus told Martha in Luke 10:42 that “one thing only is essential.” That one thing is knowing the Father. We can busy ourselves doing good things for God and still not fulfill His purpose for our lives. Being obedient to God means making Him the goal of our lives instead of focusing on what we do for Him. I wonder what would happen if I spent more time with God and less time doing things for Him. I wonder how we’d be different if we boasted in God’s true glory instead of boasting about the money we gave to missions or how many times we’ve cleaned the church.
My prayer is for me as much as it is for you, and it’s simply this: to stop! Stop with your busy life, even if it is filled with doing good things in the name of Jesus. I pray that God, not the things we do for Him, would become the goal and purpose of our lives.
It’s true that our faith needs to be acted out. But only one thing is essential: sitting at the feet of Jesus and pursuing His heart. What will you choose to do?
It bugs me so much when i see churchs or something on tv saying ” give your money now, they need your help.” Well, yeah they do, i am more than happy to give my money to someone in need, but learning and knowing God’s word is WAY WAY WAY more important. Right? Im not saying don’t give to the needy or dont give your money to people who need it, im just saying I think it’s WAY more important for people to know God’s word. I mean spending time with him is something we have to do to become better and stronger Christians :O)
Giving people money won’t help them grow closer.
I am kind of confused about why God told Martha to stop doing good things. But if you are to do good things do it for Him. I do agree with Sara, because why would you give people your money and other things if it isn’t for a “godly” reason. I know that the helpless, homeless, people that need things need it but it just doesn’t make sense if you are going to give things to people than do it for God, not to just be a “nice” person. Giving up things for other people won’t help you or anyone else get closer to God.