Preserve Your Devotion

Preserve Your Devotion Preserve Your Devotion Michael Morse / General CrossFit / Dedication; Stress; Devotion; Anxiety; Worship; Servant of the Lord / Luke 10:38-42 Devotion is our dedication or commitment - our loyalty for something or someone. In CrossFitness you must work to preserve your devotion and to continue progressing towards fitness. So to must we preserve our devotion to Jesus in order to progress towards cross fitness. Introduction 1. We live in an extreme paced culture a. As we increase technology that is supposed to alleviate the things we currently do and free up more time - we increase the things we are doing i. We have cell phones - that put all sorts of technology and information at our finger tips 1. GPS used to be a separate device you needed to get - now on your phone 2. Friends are a text, message, tweet faceTime call away. ii. Phones however have not made life easier - it has made life more complicated 1. We have scheduling at our finger tips with calendars - but now we over book, over estimate time we have 2. When we are doing something we do something else on our phone b. As life becomes busier the things we want to do or prioritize to do get pushed out i. For someone who desires to be crossFit - this requires one to actively and continually be on guard to preserve their devotion to working out ii. When schedules get tight usually the first thing to go is either eating healthy or working out 1. The more clutter in our lives the harder it is to preserve the things we are devoted to 2. The same havoc being wrecked in our physical lives - is being ravaged in our spiritual lives as well a. The same as we do with physical fitness - we must preserve our devotion to Jesus in order to progress and pursue true CrossFitness. b. Luke brings us to a familiar passage where we can learn to preserve our devotion i. Two things to preserve our devotion from ii. One thing that we preserve our devotion for › SLIDE Luke 10:38-39 CSB 38 While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord's feet and was listening to what he said. › SLIDE Luke 10:40 CSB 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand." › SLIDE Luke 10:41-42 CSB 41 The Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her." › SLIDE Preserve Your Devotion From Distractions › SLIDE Luke 10:38-40 CSB 38 While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord's feet and was listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand." 1. Jesus entered a village and was welcomed into a home by a woman named Martha a. The context of this remember is Jesus sent the 72 and told them this › SLIDE Luke 10:5-8 CSB 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household.' 6 If a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they offer, for the worker is worthy of his wages. Don't move from house to house. 8 When you enter any town, and they welcome you, eat the things set before you. b. Martha welcomed Jesus i. A person on whom peace would remain with grace to host Jesus (and His disciples) 1. welcomed - hupodechomai - dechomai is to receive gladly and hupodechomai is to receive as a guest, with the purpose to entertain hospitably 2. Literally Martha invited Jesus and His disciples in order to be a gracious and hospitable host ii. Whoever welcomes you - remain with them - so Jesus allowed her to be hospitable 2. Martha's sister Mary took a place at the feet of Jesus a. We dont know from the text if Mary and Martha sat at Jesus feet of if Mary took the place among others who were travelling with Jesus i. The text says who also sat at the feet of Jesus - what we do know is Mary is at the feet of Jesus ii. In this position Mary was listening to what Jesus said 1. Hearing the message or word of Jesus 2. Perhaps of the kingdom of God › SLIDE Devotion is a place of nearness or closeness with Jesus - where one can listen and hear Him b. But Martha was DISTRACTED i. distracted - perispao - literally to draw in different ways at the same time - hence troubled overburdened, worried, distracted and anxious 1. The text is saying that Martha was drawn around in mind, distracted, preoccupied with cares or business 2. Martha was distracted from devotion ii. Martha was distracted by her MANY tasks 1. Tasks - Greek - Diakonian - deacon - service or ministry 2. I must be clear here - the distraction for Martha wasnt that she was serving Jesus a. It would be no small task to serve Jesus her house and His guests - at least 15 people b. Serving and being hospitable is a good thing - so the issue here isnt with serving 3. Martha was distracted from her devotion to Jesus - she could not hear Him or listen to Him because she was wrapped up in serving Him a. The issue is not serving but the heart of serving › SLIDE With much serving we must be careful we are not distracted from the reason we are serving; or whom we are serving. b. Martha was so focused on what needs to be done she forgot who and why she was serving in the first place. iii. She was distracted, preoccupied and troubled 3. Martha was serving but her heart was not focused on the Lord a. Her cares and concern was for herself and what she was doing. › SLIDE When we take our eyes off Jesus and put them on ourselves we lose sight of our privileged place of service i. This is when our minds go from we "get" to serve to we "have" to serve ii. Though the distance from have to and get to is far is only takes a moment to cross from one to the other. b. Lord dont you care? i. Martha really quickly went from welcoming Jesus into her home to questioning His love for her and what she is doing or going through ii. Honestly - have we ever been there? Joyfully excited to begin serving only to go from joy to bitterness? 1. Bitterness that ends up directed at the very person we are devoted to? c. My sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me i. Bitterness not only gets directed at God but to those around us - our brothers and sisters also 1. We look around and we think we are the only ones serving and the only ones who even care about the things of God 2. Bitterness that affects not only our relationship with God but with those who are closest to us ii. How many can relate to encountering a Martha - one who is irritable and crabby in their service to the Lord? › SLIDE When we start comparing our eyes come off Jesus and we become distracted with much serving 1. Has your service for Jesus ever distracted you from Jesus or got in your way of Jesus? 4. We must preserve our devotion from distraction - for it leads to service with a wrong heart and that is dangerous! a. It is easy to compare what we are doing to what others do and begin to feel like we are doing all of it i. Do you tithe - be careful of becoming bitter to those who do not - remember instead of the privilege of giving to God ii. Do you serve tirelessly in ministry - be careful of looking for those who arent serving as much or at all - it is a privilege to serve iii. Preserve your devotion to Jesus from distraction 1. Martha's problem was not she had to much work but that she allowed her work to distract and pull her › SLIDE - Warren Wiersbe If serving Christ makes us difficult to live with, then something is terribly wrong with our service › SLIDE Preserve Your Devotion From Demands › SLIDE - Luke 10:41-42a Christian Standard Bible Chapter 10 41 The Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. 1. Jesus answers Martha's plea for help a. Jesus will always answer the plea for help - just be prepared for an answer you didnt expect i. Sometimes we have to ask ourselves are we the reason we are frustrated? b. Martha, Martha you are worried and upset about many things i. Martha - you are upset and frustrated with MANY things ii. worried - merimnao - have a distracting care and upset - is to be in turmoil (interesting this verb is found no where else) 1. You have much you are doing, too much perhaps, look at all the things that you are doing a. Distracted with MANY tasks b. Worried and upset about MANY things 2. Many - is the Greek POLY - which means multiple iii. Martha has inward anxiety with outward agitation - due to MANY tasks - each with their own demands 1. Every generation and age has demands that each must endure 2. Each task or activity or every YES = a new demand for us › SLIDE For many of us our devotion to Jesus is threatened by our busy schedules and demands we have c. Many books have been written about how busy we are and how we cannot say no and how we keep running around at a frantic pace - usually what gets tossed out is our quiet time, our devotion time with Jesus › SLIDE Ask yourself this - do you expect more out of yourself than God does? i. It was God who created Sabbath › SLIDE Mark 2:27 CSB 27 Then he told them, "The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. 2. Jesus gives Martha the cure for the overwhelming demands - one thing is necessary a. You are going crazy with all this - when only one thing is necessary only one thing is a need i. The context is the serving Martha is doing - a meal - which she may be putting out a huge spread with many different choices and lots of preparation ii. Looking back at the dishes piling up and need to make room and get it all ready and served at the same time iii. Jesus says - only one dish was necessary b. Jesus gives focus back to Marth - you have been anxious and worried and upset about many things - you have been doing many things - but forgetting the one thing needed › SLIDE In the busyness of doing many things how often do we forget the one thing that matters - our devotion c. There are many authors, bloggers and guru's whose main message is minimalism, simplifying, slowing down i. Their message is not new - its Biblical - the Bible often speaks of "ONE" thing › SLIDE Psalm 27:4 CSB 4 I have asked one thing from the LORD; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the LORD and seeking him in his temple. › SLIDE Luke 18:22 CSB 22 When Jesus heard this, he told him, "You still lack one thing: Sell all you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." › SLIDE Philippians 3:13-14 CSB 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus. ii. What is it that keeps us from slowing down? What keeps us from the one thing? 1. A busy schedule is a demanding schedule - busy makes demands 2. Demands on ourselves come from the place of P's a. Pride b. People Pleasing c. Proving yourself d. Possessions e. Poor Planning f. Perfectionism 3. We fix it through posture - as we kneel at the feet of Jesus › SLIDE Preserve Your Devotion By Choice › SLIDE Christian Standard Bible Chapter 10 Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her." 1. Jesus states for Martha that Mary has made the right choice a. Her devotion was preserved by her choice - the same as her devotion was made in choice i. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to Him - this was the right choice 1. Martha made her devotion in choice when she welcomed Jesus into her home. 2. But her choice should have been continued to be made - despite distractions and demands. ii. The choice is not salvation - for Martha and Mary both had this 1. The best dish on the table is fellowship with Jesus › SLIDE The "ONE thing" we must choose is our continued focus on Jesus 2. There are many good things to choose from - but like Mary's choice we must choose the right choice. a. Good is the enemy of great › SLIDE 1 Corinthians 10:23 CSB 23 "Everything is permissible," but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible," but not everything builds up. › SLIDE 1 Corinthians 6:12 CSB 12 "Everything is permissible for me," but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me," but I will not be mastered by anything. b. The good part is chosen in devotion to Jesus › SLIDE Psalm 16:5 CSB 5 LORD, you are my portion and my cup of blessing; you hold my future. b. To sit at the feet of Jesus implies much i. Readiness to accept and obey what Jesus teaches ii. Submission to Jesus iii. Faith in Jesus iv. Discipleship v. Love 2. Mary has chosen the good portion and it will not be taken from her a. Martha's frustration will not take the good portion from Mary i. Jesus pointedly takes Mary's side against Martha's fussiness ii. Relationship, devotion to Jesus will not be taken from anyone 1. Jesus wants Martha and us to see that He is the good portion › SLIDE Jesus prizes our affection and devotion above our sacrifice and service 2. Service can be tainted with pride or self-importance b. Women were not allowed to sit at a Rabbi's feet for instruction i. Mary chose to break social norms ii. The life of devotion is ordered not around what's expected by others - but it is ordered around the Word of God › SLIDE Deuteronomy 8:3 CSB 3 He humbled you by letting you go hungry; then he gave you manna to eat, which you and your ancestors had not known, so that you might learn that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. › SLIDE What we do with Jesus is far more important than what we do for Jesus Conclusion 1. Our focus in this passage is not that service is unneeded or unimportant, but that service without the proper attitude challenges our devotion 2. What has our attention most of the time? Are we so busy for the Lord that we are too busy for the Lord? It is easy enough to say that our time, life and money are the Lord's but what about our attention? › SLIDE - Adrian Rogers If Satan cannot make you bad he will make you busy 3. What feeds the soul is more important than what feeds the body. To listen to Jesus is even better than serving - Hearing God's word is the best thing a. We do not live on bread alone - and that is why we as a church are committed and I as your pastor am committed to God's Word 4. Certainly a meal was in order - it is not either or - but a balance. Few things are as damaging to our devotion as trying to serve Christ without communing with Christ. › SLIDE John 15:5 CSB 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. 5. Usually in counseling there is a common question - tell me about your devotional life. Most often busyness of distractions, and demands removed bible reading, and praying - which invites problems! In Luke 10 - we have been called ambassadors, neighbors and worshippers - the greatest of these is worshippers - we must preserve our devotion! Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 11:51 AM July 25, 2020.