Communauté et discipulat

The Greatest Use of Time (Luk. 10:38~42)

2014.01.05Rev. Eddie Byun

Time with God is always the greatest use of our time, and this new year we should practice the disciplines of showing up, stillness, and choosing Christ above all else, because only a still heart can receive the blessing that Mary chose. 1

Showing up at the feet of Jesus is the first step (38-39)

Luke 10 tells how Martha welcomed Jesus into her home, while her sister Mary sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. Sitting at the Lord's feet is the position of a student or disciple, and showing up there is the vital first step toward using our time well. Yet showing up is often the hardest step, because prayer is warfare and our flesh resists submitting to the Spirit. We must fight to get on our knees and fight to stay there. Jesus invites the weary to come to him in Matthew 11:28, and like Mary we must begin our days by sitting before him and waiting for his instruction.

Stillness before God guards the heart from busyness (40-41)

Martha was distracted by much serving and complained that her sister had left her alone. Even service to the Lord can become a distraction when we are not focused on the Lord. Showing up is not enough if our hearts remain restless and distracted; we must also learn the discipline of stillness. Psalm 46:10 says, Be still and know that I am God. A busy heart forgets who God is and begins to think it must control everything, so Martha lost her joy in serving and began to doubt God's love. Hurry harms the soul, because a holy life is an unhurried life, and only a still heart can reflect the image of Christ clearly.

Choose the good portion, which is Christ (42)

Jesus says that Martha is anxious and troubled about many things, but only one thing is necessary, and Mary has chosen the good portion that will not be taken away. Our anxieties are the byproduct of a busy heart, and we always make time for what we truly value. Busyness is not a blessing and not something to brag about; it often hides laziness, poor time management, or insecurity, and it reveals that we are neglecting what matters most to our souls. The enemy keeps us busy with good things so that we miss the greatest blessing, an intimate encounter with God. Time with God is always the best choice, and that is the discipline of selection.

Living out the disciplines this year

To practice these disciplines, the pastor points to three concrete steps. First, read through the Bible with a steady plan, such as the Discipleship Journal reading plan, which includes five grace days each month to catch up, and use audio like the free ESV audiobook offered in January to help with the difficult names. Second, learn to show up and be still in prayer, drawing on books on prayer such as E. M. Bounds, whose writings can draw us to our knees. Third, join the Wednesday night of prayer, because God calls his church a house of prayer. Billy Graham's regret of not spending more time in prayer and in God's Word shows where wisdom lies.

Apply to Life

  • 성경을 꾸준히 읽는 계획을 세워 함께 읽어 봅시다.
  • 기도의 자리에 나아가 무릎 꿇고 머무는 훈련을 실천해 봅시다.
  • '바쁘다'는 말 대신 하나님 앞에서 잠잠할 수 있는 마음을 구합시다.
  • 수요 기도회에 참여해 교회가 기도하는 공동체가 되도록 함께합시다.
  • 하루를 시작할 때 예수님의 발치에 먼저 앉아 그분의 음성을 들읍시다.

This summary was made automatically from the sermon's captions and may differ from the sermon.

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