Since the Quarantine for Covid-19 began, and my kids are at home, our schedules and daily lives have had to be adjusted. Since we're considered "essential," as our church runs a food pantry, we've had to take them to the church with us for at least 2 hours a day as our work schedules overlap so that the youngsters are not home alone. We've had to come up with some creative ways of keeping their attention, all the while trying to also pour in to their lives. Yesterday, for at least a little bit while my wife was preparing a box for the food pantry, the boys came in to my office, and we played a game together on my office computer. In the game, we had to free little bears by matching colored squares, and either free them from a trap, or get them to a goal. In that time, we talked about what happens when you get distracted from the goal (ultimately, you can lose, big time!). In the same way, we brought it back to the Gospel: if we lose track of what is important in our walk with Jesus, we can lose out, big time! In many respects, several ministries, churches, and believers have done the same thing. Some of us look up, waiting for the Lord to return and take us out of here, some of us focus on keeping doors open, some of us focus on drawing crowds, or preserving traditions, and there are many more focuses besides. Yet, if we lose sight of the main thing, the Gospel Message, we miss out on what is best! In the Garden, our disobedience severed or union with God and one another, giving it instead to Sin and Death. Each of us has inherited sin and death, so by default, we're doomed and destined for death. Jesus came and lived as one of us, lifting the curse of sin and death in complete submission and obedience to the Father's will. He put sin to death by nailing it to a cross, with Himself as the payment for OUR sins. He rested in the ground, and three days later, emerged as the first born of the new creation, transforming death in to what brings us to eternal life with Him, should we choose to believe, follow and surrender our lives to Him. If we lose sight of this, if we seek to draw crowds, or whatever else we may do, we're missing the point. Beloved follower of Christ, keep the main thing the main thing! What needs to happen in your life to bring you back to Christ? How can understanding this Gospel Message help transform your walk with Jesus? Luke 10:38-42 English Standard Version (ESV)
Martha and Mary
38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus[a] entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary.[b] Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Footnotes:
Luke 10:38 Greek he
Luke 10:42 Some manuscripts few things are necessary, or only one
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