Today’s reading is Luke 9:1-10:42.

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary” (Luke 10:41-42).

I needed to be reminded of this today. While your reading this, I’m probably working on my Tennessee house because it still isn’t ready to sell. We have built retaining walls, worked on landscaping, rebuilt the deck, painted. Yesterday, I discovered that shampooing the carpet probably isn’t going to cut it. Looks like we’ll have to have new installed. Needless to say, right now, I’m easily distracted, troubled, and anxious.

Certainly, I’m allowed to work on my house today. However, I need to keep things in perspective. I can get my house in top notch shape but that won’t necessarily help me glorify God. Today, I need to remember that the most important thing is getting to know Jesus a little better. That will help me glorify God and help me find eternal life. In the midst of hammering, painting, planting grass, etc. I need to keep Jesus at the center.

Yes, it is easy to be anxious and troubled about all these things, but if I make sure to focus on the one necessary thing, God will provide the rest.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Luke 1:1-2:52.

I can hardly imagine being Zechariah or Mary when Gabriel appeared. I wonder what he looked like. I wonder what it felt like with an angel in the room. I’m simply in awe of what that must have been like.

What feelings did it engender? Looks like fear was the common response. But the angel calmed them, “Do not be afraid,” he said. Then he explained interesting events. Elizabeth, barren for many years, would finally have a son (hear Abraham and Sarah’s story in this). Mary, a virgin, betrothed but as yet unmarried, would also have a child.

The part that really struck me today was Mary’s response: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Did she know what she was agreeing to? Did she know the scorn and ridicule she would suffer as an unwed mother? Did she know that people would hold that against her son as he grew up (cf. John 8:41)? Did she know the pain she would experience when her son died a young man, an innocent man dying a criminal’s death?

I have no idea what she knew or thought at the time. She didn’t know either. However, as her father Abraham followed God wherever He led even if he didn’t know where it was going to be, she was willing to pursue whatever God had in store for her.

I need to have this attitude as I read God’s word. “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” I need to have the faith and trust that God’s way works. Whatever He has in store for me will be all right in the end, even if it leads through hard and difficult times.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What caught your heart in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Luke 9:1-10:42.

Poor Martha. She was so busy doing what she thought really mattered. After all, the Master was in her home. What could be more important than playing the role of hostess? Not to mention, what she was doing was serving. We all know that Christianity is all about serving. Yet, Jesus claims she was distracted. 

Distracted from what? 

From the most important thing. Martha was committing an out and out sin. I mean, had she been busy blaspheming and contradicting Jesus, that would have been a sin at any time. But being a great host and serving her guests were certainly a responsibility she would have to fulfill. The problem was she missed what was the most important thing at the time. Jesus was teaching. Instead of listening to the Master Teacher, she was busy cooking, cleaning, straightening, etc. She could get to that later, but she could only list to Jesus teach while he was actually teaching.

How easy it is to get distracted. We can get distracted by the pleasures of out and out sin. We can get distracted by our own pursuits. We can get distracted by good things that take us from the most important things. We can be distracted from Jesus by television, work, school, our families, material goals, political goals, etc. This last list doesn’t contain anything necessarily wrong, but when they distract us from the most important, they become wrong.

The fact is, I can become the President of the United States of America. I don’t believe there is anything scripturally wrong with that. But, if the pursuit and practice of that office distracts me from Jesus, I’ll be lost. I won’t stand before God in judgment able to say, “But I was president!” I can become a preacher. However, if the work I do to preserve my “preacher” status actually distracts me from Jesus, I’ll be lost. I know that may sound shocking. But it is perfectly easy to get so distracted with trying to write lessons, convert people, comfort those in need that I don’t actually maintain my connection with Jesus. 

I am easily distracted by the desire to be a famous author. I like to write. I enjoy writing. I hope my writing is beneficial and helpful to others. But sometimes I get distracted from just being a tool God can use how he wants and want to focus on how to become a famous author. What good will it do me to become famous if I’ve been distracted from the most important thing? Who knows, maybe in God’s plan I will get to that point. Or maybe not. That’s God’s business. My business today is focusing on learning from Jesus. I need to let God take care of the rest.

Today, let’s get rid of distractions. Let’s focus on knowing and submitting to Jesus and just follow wherever that leads. Some folks still stuck in Marthahood my get upset and even ask God to judge us. But when we take this path, what we do will never be lost.

***Question: What are some common distractions for Christians today?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is Luke 1:1-2:52.

In Luke 1:25, Elizabeth praised God, saying, “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

In Luke 1:46-49, Mary praised God, saying, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is might has done great things for me, and holy is his name.”

In Luke 1:68-69, Zechariah praised God, saying, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David…”

Luke begins with a litany of praises. God is worthy of that praise. He has done great things. He has brought us salvation. He did work the plan, despite man’s attempts and Satan’s attempts the thwart Him. 

As Luke began His book, we should begin our days, praising God for His greatness, mercy, and benefits.

***QUESTION: What great things has God done for you that cause you to praise Him?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Right out of the starting gate I was struck in today’s reading. John 11:6 says, “So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was” (ESV).

What is up with that? His friend is sick. He could stop it. Why wait?

By the time Jesus shows up in Bethany, Lazarus is dead. Everyone was thinking the same thing, “You’re too late, Jesus.” It seems He had waited too long.

But then Jesus pulls a turn around on everyone. He wasn’t too late at all. He simply had a different agenda than everyone else. Everyone else wanted Jesus to keep Lazarus from dying. Jesus wanted to glorify God by showing that He could raise the dead.

Here is the take away for me. Jesus is never late. Jesus doesn’t have to respond by my time table. He is always right on time for His agenda and His glory. My job is not to persuade, cajole or manipulate Him into doing my bidding on my timetable. My job is to learn His agenda and strive for it. I need to recognize that Jesus’ plans are greater than my own and trust that He will never be too late to accomplish what is truly important on His agenda.

What hit you in today’s reading?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. If you would like to listen to a lesson I preached about Thomas from these chapters. Click the link below.

Encountering Thomas at His Greatest