IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2008
Recently I read some materials authored by Alice Matthews (writer for Radio Bible Class) and she said our lack of joy in ministry could be attributed to our lack of devotion to the Lord. What do you think of that statement? Can you think of anything other than lack of devotion that would deplete joy in ministry?
Read with me in Luke 10 beginning with verse 38
38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.
40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.
42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
First let me tell you that I did not notice until recently that the Scripture says Mary who ALSO sat a Jesus feet. This tells me that when Jesus arrived at Martha’s house (and by the way the text said welcomed Him so Martha was GLAD He was there) there is a real possibility that BOTH Mary and Martha sat to listen to Jesus. But Martha being a ‘Martha’ sat there as long as she believed she could and still get the lamb roasted, the leeks and lentils cook, the figs and pomegranates prepared, turn the grain into bread, and all the other things it would take to make a Grand Feast for Jesus. A great, grand and noble undertaking wouldn’t you say? Surely Jesus understood when she got up and quietly went to the kitchen. Don’t you think?
I suspect when Martha began the cooking, she was thrilled and excited, just bubbling over with joy; she could envision the meal completed and the appreciation and satisfaction on the faces of all her guests as they savored each delectable dish. But as the degrees on the sun dial ticked away and Mary did not come help and supper time was fast approaching and Martha had grown weary with all the labor, she became more and more angry. Martha lost the ‘joy’ in serving. Why was that? Do we do this? Do we begin a project for Jesus sake and then before it is finished we get mad because someone else has not come along and joined us? And then what do we do? Do we ‘jump all over’ Jesus because they are not helping us; and worse yet, BLAME HIM for it?!!
What if? What if Martha had done this: What if she had stayed seated at the feet of Jesus for as long as He had something to say to her? What if she had taken in every word He said? And we say but what about the meal? Was not it her job as hostess to feed them? Of course it was. But what if she had ‘waited before the Lord’ instead of getting up prematurely? This is the picture that came to me as I began writing this devotion. What if Martha had continued to sit and listen and then when Jesus had finished His Lesson for the day (we know that He knew how much to ‘feed’ them at one sitting – He does us!), He turned to her and said: ‘Martha, let me help you in the kitchen’. Can you imagine the joy of going to the kitchen with Jesus? I can tell you right now this word picture excites me!! I LOVE IT!! To have Him work alongside! To have Him help with the leeks and onions and the grinding of the grain! Man! WE ARE COOKING NOW!!! Can you imagine the extended intimate fellowship she could have had with Him? Martha missed out. Next time we look up and realize we have lost our joy in service, we can be sure we got up from the feet of Jesus before He had finished that day’s lesson. Or worse than that, we didn’t even sit down with Him that day!
Father, thank You!! This is good!! This picture of You in the kitchen right beside me. Lord, I love it!!! Thank You so much!! Oh Lord, keep this up. I want to fall head over heels, full of hope, forever in love with You. And this helps so much. Please don’t let me forget it. Thank You. And Holy Spirit please impart this to our IDOKs; generate excitement in them too; build a word picture for them too – in the work-shop, the garage, the office, the store – any place we go to serve You and others. Oh Father God You are so AWESOME! Bless You Lord Forever and Ever. Thank You for being YOU. You amaze me. Lord, keep WOW-ing us. Help us sit still long enough at Your Feet that You can WOW us. Thank You. And now because You Word tells us so and because we care, we bring these on our list and we pray for Your Intervention in the life of each person and each situation just as they need today. And for our IDOK Troops, love on them today for us Lord; keep them safe and sound in mind, body and spirit; give them manifest reasons to hope and we continue to look to You to bring this war to a successful conclusion. We continue to look to You for the Peace of Israel, for the election of Your Choice for President here in America; for the repentance of America and for the revival of Your Church. Amen and amen. Maggie and Family. Josh. Donnie S. Smith and family. Barber Grandsons. Renee’. Cathy’s friend and son. Jeremy H. Pastor’s Widow and four children. Martin Family. Odessa H. Margie & Duncan. Kearley Family. Kathy S. Glen Beck. Bev and family. Tonya and family. Rick Burgess and family. Dall T. Dylan. Marsha’s grand-baby. Kathy N. Kyle A. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Patsy B. Kim T. Kevin and the children. Lisa’s Mother. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. Lisa W. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Taylor & family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Cynthia. Martha F and Bob. Allyson and Glen and family. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sharron and girls. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa. Brad, Lindsay, Karah and Haley. Cindy K and family. Chuck. Jessie L. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam & Family. Andrew. Cindy, Sharron and Tonya’s houses to sell.
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family.
Every IDOK church.
The Peace of Israel
Revival in America.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Hawk. Brant W. Lyndon A. Christopher R. Travis N. Joshua M. Brent. Drew. Justin G.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Albert R III. Bay N.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee. George.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Injured Stateside:
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light. Bradley T.
Military at home adjusting – Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Edward J.
Civilian in Country – Mike. Lee.
As I post this it is 70°F and haze in Al Taji, IQ & the time there is 7:01 AM AST – on March 11, 2008
His Ministry to You
Read with me in Luke 10 beginning with verse 38
38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.
40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.
42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
First let me tell you that I did not notice until recently that the Scripture says Mary who ALSO sat a Jesus feet. This tells me that when Jesus arrived at Martha’s house (and by the way the text said welcomed Him so Martha was GLAD He was there) there is a real possibility that BOTH Mary and Martha sat to listen to Jesus. But Martha being a ‘Martha’ sat there as long as she believed she could and still get the lamb roasted, the leeks and lentils cook, the figs and pomegranates prepared, turn the grain into bread, and all the other things it would take to make a Grand Feast for Jesus. A great, grand and noble undertaking wouldn’t you say? Surely Jesus understood when she got up and quietly went to the kitchen. Don’t you think?
I suspect when Martha began the cooking, she was thrilled and excited, just bubbling over with joy; she could envision the meal completed and the appreciation and satisfaction on the faces of all her guests as they savored each delectable dish. But as the degrees on the sun dial ticked away and Mary did not come help and supper time was fast approaching and Martha had grown weary with all the labor, she became more and more angry. Martha lost the ‘joy’ in serving. Why was that? Do we do this? Do we begin a project for Jesus sake and then before it is finished we get mad because someone else has not come along and joined us? And then what do we do? Do we ‘jump all over’ Jesus because they are not helping us; and worse yet, BLAME HIM for it?!!
What if? What if Martha had done this: What if she had stayed seated at the feet of Jesus for as long as He had something to say to her? What if she had taken in every word He said? And we say but what about the meal? Was not it her job as hostess to feed them? Of course it was. But what if she had ‘waited before the Lord’ instead of getting up prematurely? This is the picture that came to me as I began writing this devotion. What if Martha had continued to sit and listen and then when Jesus had finished His Lesson for the day (we know that He knew how much to ‘feed’ them at one sitting – He does us!), He turned to her and said: ‘Martha, let me help you in the kitchen’. Can you imagine the joy of going to the kitchen with Jesus? I can tell you right now this word picture excites me!! I LOVE IT!! To have Him work alongside! To have Him help with the leeks and onions and the grinding of the grain! Man! WE ARE COOKING NOW!!! Can you imagine the extended intimate fellowship she could have had with Him? Martha missed out. Next time we look up and realize we have lost our joy in service, we can be sure we got up from the feet of Jesus before He had finished that day’s lesson. Or worse than that, we didn’t even sit down with Him that day!
Father, thank You!! This is good!! This picture of You in the kitchen right beside me. Lord, I love it!!! Thank You so much!! Oh Lord, keep this up. I want to fall head over heels, full of hope, forever in love with You. And this helps so much. Please don’t let me forget it. Thank You. And Holy Spirit please impart this to our IDOKs; generate excitement in them too; build a word picture for them too – in the work-shop, the garage, the office, the store – any place we go to serve You and others. Oh Father God You are so AWESOME! Bless You Lord Forever and Ever. Thank You for being YOU. You amaze me. Lord, keep WOW-ing us. Help us sit still long enough at Your Feet that You can WOW us. Thank You. And now because You Word tells us so and because we care, we bring these on our list and we pray for Your Intervention in the life of each person and each situation just as they need today. And for our IDOK Troops, love on them today for us Lord; keep them safe and sound in mind, body and spirit; give them manifest reasons to hope and we continue to look to You to bring this war to a successful conclusion. We continue to look to You for the Peace of Israel, for the election of Your Choice for President here in America; for the repentance of America and for the revival of Your Church. Amen and amen. Maggie and Family. Josh. Donnie S. Smith and family. Barber Grandsons. Renee’. Cathy’s friend and son. Jeremy H. Pastor’s Widow and four children. Martin Family. Odessa H. Margie & Duncan. Kearley Family. Kathy S. Glen Beck. Bev and family. Tonya and family. Rick Burgess and family. Dall T. Dylan. Marsha’s grand-baby. Kathy N. Kyle A. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Patsy B. Kim T. Kevin and the children. Lisa’s Mother. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. Lisa W. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Taylor & family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Cynthia. Martha F and Bob. Allyson and Glen and family. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sharron and girls. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa. Brad, Lindsay, Karah and Haley. Cindy K and family. Chuck. Jessie L. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam & Family. Andrew. Cindy, Sharron and Tonya’s houses to sell.
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family.
Every IDOK church.
The Peace of Israel
Revival in America.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Hawk. Brant W. Lyndon A. Christopher R. Travis N. Joshua M. Brent. Drew. Justin G.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Albert R III. Bay N.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee. George.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Injured Stateside:
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light. Bradley T.
Military at home adjusting – Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Edward J.
Civilian in Country – Mike. Lee.
As I post this it is 70°F and haze in Al Taji, IQ & the time there is 7:01 AM AST – on March 11, 2008
His Ministry to You
