Today we will finish our study in Luke 10. From thiswonderful chapter we have learned from the sending of the seventy (vv. 1-16),that we are to be ambassadors for Christ. We are His representatives,“standingin His stead, beseeching people to be reconciled to God through the blood ofHis cross”(2 Corinthians 5:18-21). From the story of “Good Samaritan” (vv.25-37), we are taught that as Christ followers, we should be “good neighbors”. Weshould be willing to take the time from our busy life to stop and help theperson closest to us that has a need of any kind.
Now in these last verses of Luke 10, we are reminded not toforget that the most important thing that we are to be is worshippers (vv.38-42). Before God calls us to go as ambassadors, or serve in the house(church), He calls us to worship Him. We were created for the purpose ofworship! Jesus told the woman at the well in John 4:23-24,“But the hour iscoming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spiritand truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, andthose who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
You can’t help but notice, especially when you study theBook of Revelation, that all of heaven and eternity is about worship. In theopening scene of heaven in Revelation 4:8-11, we find the “four livingcreatures” never resting day or night, as they give glory and honor and thanksto Him who sits on the throne saying,"Holy, holy, holy, Lord GodAlmighty, Who was and is and is to come!"Then the twenty-four eldersfall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives foreverand ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:"You areworthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created allthings, And by Your will they exist and were created."
And Revelation 5:13-14 ends with another worship scene!
Yes, we are created to worship. And for sure we willworship God, or we will worship someone or something else. If we are notworshipping God, we are worshipping ourselves, money, sports, cars, houses,work, or anything that consumes our attention, time, and pocketbook. The devil,just like he did with Jesus in Luke 4:1-12, will do everything he can to distractus from worshipping our Father in heaven, and many times it is with very goodand legitimate things.
Martha got distracted with her service to Jesus! She was doingsomething that was very good and commendable. But Jesus pointed out that shewas “worried and troubled about many things(v. 41). Mary received Jesusinto her home and then neglected Him as she prepared an elaborate meal that Hedid not need! Certainly a meal was in order, but what we do with Christ is farmore important than what we do for Christ. Remember, it is not an either/orsituation; it is a matter of balance. Mary had done her share of the work inthe kitchen and then had gone to "feed" on the Lord's teachings.Martha felt neglected after Mary left the kitchen, and she began to complain andto suggest that neither the Lord nor Mary really cared!
Few things are as damaging to the Christian life as tryingto work for Christ without taking time to commune with Christ."Forwithout Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). Mary chose the better, thegood part, the part that could not be taken from her. She knew that she couldnot live "by bread alone" (Matt. 4:4).
Whenever we criticize others and pity ourselves because wefeel overworked, we had better take time to examine our lives. Perhaps in allof our busyness, we have been ignoring the Lord. Martha's problem was not thatshe had too much work to do, but that she allowed her work to distract her andpull her apart. She was trying to serve with the wrong spirit! If servingChrist makes us difficult to live with, then something is terribly wrong withour service!
Today, are you taking time to“sit at the feet of Jesus”?
God bless!
