Only one thing worth being concerned about ...

Well here is an attempt to get back on track for me. I have caught up on quite a few passages of Scripture I had let slide and today I am up to date again. Although, I must say, one of the dangers with such a discipline is to not get stuck in a trap of reading for the sake of being able to tick off the reading plan and say "yep another one done."

Well what a passage to read and be challenged about. In fact two passages I want to share, have a look with me:

Luke 10:38-42 (New Living Translation)

Jesus Visits Martha and Mary

38 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. 40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 11:37-42 (New Living Translation)
Jesus Criticizes the Religious Leaders

37 As Jesus was speaking, one of the Pharisees invited him home for a meal. So he went in and took his place at the table. 38 His host was amazed to see that he sat down to eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony required by Jewish custom. 39 Then the Lord said to him, “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and wickedness! 40 Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside? 41 So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over.

42 “What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

Let me be clear. Firstly, this is not having a go at people who are very practical and service oriented in their gifting. But it does echo a huge warning - be careful you do not neglect that which really is most important - whereby you need to find yourself in the presence of Jesus and listening to Him. Absorbing what He has to teach you. Soaking up His presence. It is important, vital that we spend time at the feet of Jesus and learn from Him. How easy it is to get caught up in work, doing. You have heard me before I would reckon, number 1 importance is BEing who God created you to be.

The second passage follows on from this. Be on guard that you don't merely follow practices, disciplines of the Christian faith and loose the essence of it. Yes! Emphatically YES! You should tithe. But, don't neglect the other elements that are also important. Don't attempt to excuse yourself as though one practice exempts you from another. We are required, actually compelled to be a people of justice and this focused particularly upon the most disadvantaged and marginalised within our community. Alongside this, let all you are and all you do be a response from your love for God.

Father, thank you for revealing these timely lessons to me today. Help me to live by the lessons taught me and faithfully follow Your disciplines expected of me.

Where's the heart ...

How careful we have to be to ensure we do not get in such a rut that all we are doing is going through the motions. I have seen it, time and time again. Here is the typical one I can recall - "we really must say the Lord's prayer ..." Are you kidding me? Do you not get it? Have a look again, here is a way to fashion your prayer. Here is a model for you. Look at the various elements that are contained, and pray in this fashion. I even recall an occasion whereby for a number of weeks we dissected the model and worked through it to assist people to understand what was meant by this instruction of Jesus. And you know what happened? Somebody approached me at the end of the series and asked, "are we going to say it in the services again each week now." Well you might imagine I just wanted to scream.

The passage from Isaiah tonight reveals to us that the people were fulfilling the elements to worship - sacrifices, burnt offerings, parading in the courts of the temple with ceremony, bringing gifts, burning incense, lifting their hands in prayer and offering many prayers... But, this is not what satisfies the Lord if all it is, is a going through the motions. Have a look at what the Lord required of them (and requires of us).

Isaiah 1:16-17 (New Living Translation)

16 Wash yourselves and be clean!

Get your sins out of my sight.

Give up your evil ways.

17 Learn to do good.

Seek justice.

Help the oppressed.

Defend the cause of orphans.

Fight for the rights of widows.

We are to look out for those who are marginalised and disadvantaged within our communities, that's what this means, that is what the Lord requires. It might be somewhat like the Matthew 25 passage - "as you have done unto the least of these ..."

However, let me point out - it is not merely about our correction, or about what we must do. It follows on somewhat from the restorative reading of yesterday. Have a look at the activity of the Lord in this, as He looks to make things right:

Isaiah 1:18-20 (New Living Translation)

18 “Come now, let’s settle this,”

says the Lord.

“Though your sins are like scarlet,

I will make them as white as snow.

Though they are red like crimson,

I will make them as white as wool.

And the promise if we are obedient:

19 If you will only obey me,

you will have plenty to eat.

And if we are not obedient:

20 But if you turn away and refuse to listen,

you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies.

I, the Lord, have spoken!”

I know where my choice lies.