Distraction and Devotion

Introduction

Who’s got rhythm?

I love watching a really good drumline. It is sight and sound in rhythm.

When someone is out of sync it is pretty obvious. The same is true when something is out of sync in your life.

Sometimes you don’t know where it is coming from but you know something is off.

The slower the beat the easier to be in rhythm

The faster the pace of life, the easier it is to be out of rhythm.

Life is like this sometimes.

It is pretty obvious when something is out of sync in your life.

It seems to get worse as life becomes more fast-paced.

Kids, work, sports, etc.

Sometimes it is hard to know what is really out-of-sync or haw to get back in rhythm, but something feels off.

Christianity is not an add-on to life. It is life (or should be).

John 10:10 (ESV)

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Is your faith something you see as an add-on to an already busy life or something that syncs your life and is “life-giving?”

Test - When we talk about prayer, having devotions, reading God’s Word, going to church, worship - do these sound like things you need to add to your life?

ILLUST - I generally don’t struggle with trying to “find time” to eat, sleep, spend time with people because they are life-giving rhythms.

Perhaps this is why evangelism is lacking. Christians themselves see no benefit to it and see it only as a burden and not as a blessing, a life-giving, blessing.

● Blaise Pascal, one of my favorite philosophers, said that busyness sends more people to hell than unbelief.

● And even after you are a Christian, busyness destroys your joy; your capacity to love; and your ability to hear God.

J. D. Greear Sermon Archive (A Soul-Destroying Busyness: Luke 10:38–42)

Spiritual formation is the addition

Spiritual formation is either godly or pagan. Everyone gets an education - just a matter of how we are formed

WE ARE ALL BEING SPIRITUALLY FORMED - not just at church

Life in rhythm

why should we?

-feeling like a Christian imposter? Hypocrite?

- is your soul dry?

- not satisfied with Christ or the Christian life?

- things became difficult? More questions now than when you started?

— it’s either false or you need refreshing.

- ILLUST - your marriage / job / etc can be dry. Does that mean it is false or need refreshing!!

Christianity is not an add-on to life. It is life (or should be).

Luke 10:38–42 (ESV)

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.

We don’t know where Jesus was on his way to, but Luke mentions that Jesus enters a village and meets with a woman named, Martha and her sister, Mary, who we know are the sisters of Lazarus.

We do know Lazarus and his sisters live in the village of Bethany which is about two miles from Jerusalem

Because later in Luke’s gospel Jesus is found a distance from Jerusalem, it would seem that Luke is not recording this event chronologically.

The Village of Bethany was in a region known for it’s hospitality which would make sense as to Martha’s invitation.

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.”

Martha - type A, Mary - type (not)A

Martha - task-oriented, Mary - people oriented

What Mary is doing is reminiscent of what is described in the Mishnah:

“Let your house be a meeting house for the Sages and sit amidst the dust of their feet and drink in their words with thirst.”

m. ‘Abot 1:4:

I don’t really fault Martha, though. I would probably feel the same way.

41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

The world generally values Marthas more than Marys but Jesus points out that Mary is doing something more valuable than Martha

Jesus is not saying that Mary is doing more things than Martha; he is not saying that he likes Mary or her work better, just that she has chosen the better share.

Based on this passage,

Lay three foundational truths:

Blow up two myths:

Give one call to action.

Truth 1: Jesus wants to be with you and to bless you.

Jesus was on his way to …(we don’t even know and that is the point)… and stops to be with his friends. Even though he had much to do, he doesn’t expect to be served but to serve them.

If anyone would be busy, one would think it would be the Son of God who had come to earth to spend what would be a flash in light of eternity so that he could accomplish salvation for all who would believe, and Jesus sees it a priority to spend time eating, talking, and teaching his friends.

Jesus did not come to demand things from you, he came to bless you (not saying this in a prosperity gospel sort of way)

41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,

Martha, Martha is a show of care.

Remembering Christianity is not an add-on to life. It is life (or should be).

No one ever lost out by excessive devotion to Christ.

Harry A. Ironside

Truth 2: Distractions can damage your discipleship.

How good is you marriage relationship if you are on your phone all throughout date night?

IILUST - In 2011, Reading PA made national news when Cathy Cruz Marrero, aka “The Fountain Lady,” fell into the fountain in the Berkshire Mall after being distracted while texting and walking. Cruz Marrero, who works at the mall, was carrying items she had purchased in one hand and texting on her phone while walking through the mall. As she neared (JC Penney?) she failed to look up from her phone and fell right into the fountain. She was unhurt but very wet.

- believes mall security should have done more (blames someone else)

- sued mall for posting video (didn’t want anyone to know)

- turns out she had made over $5000 purchases on a stolen credit card . . . From a coworker . . . At the mall (issues go deeper)

before we laugh too hard, we should perhaps ask if heaven had surveillance footage of us would it find something similar?

We become distracted by som much of what the world offers and neglect our walk with Christ.

It causes problems and sometimes we even fall.

Then we blame everything or everyone else.

40 But Martha was distracted with much serving.

Distraction destroys devotion which damages discipleship.

Distractions are not always sinful.

Mary was distracted by serving.

Distractions are things that cause you to look somewhere other than in the face of the one you love.

ILLUST - Couples who don’t spend time together - busy with work, kids, etc. - distracted by even the “good things” of life still end up years later growing apart and claiming they don’t really know their spouse. Distraction destroys devotion to your spouse.

Being distracted, even by good things, is still a dangerous thing.

Among the enemies to devotion none is so harmful as distractions. Whatever excites the curiosity, scatters the thoughts, disquiets the heart, absorbs the interests or shifts our life focus from the kingdom of God within us to the world around us—that is a distraction; and the world is full of them. Our science-based civilization has given us many benefits but it has multiplied our distractions and so taken away far more than it has given.…

What distracts you from prioritizing time with Jesus?

The remedy for distractions is the same now as it was in earlier and simpler times, viz., prayer, meditation and the cultivation of the inner life. The psalmist said “Be still, and know,” and Christ told us to enter into our closet, shut the door and pray unto the Father. It still works.…

Distractions must be conquered or they will conquer us.

A. W. Tozer

it is possible to be busy for Jesus and not be blessed by Jesus.

Truth 3: Being with Jesus is more important than doing things for Jesus.

Don’t sacrifice one for the other

Don’t think one replaces the other

This is why you exist - to be with God

Being with Jesus is more important because being with Jesus what you made for.

The Westminster Shorter Catechism (Question 1)

What is the chief end of man?

Man’ s chief end is to glorify God, (1 Cor. 10:31, Rom. 11:36) and to enjoy him for ever. (Ps. 73:25–28)

Even after doing things for Jesus ends, being WITH Jesus is just getting started.

Psalm 145:19 (ESV)

19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.

We cannot substitute being the hands of Jesus from being at the feet of Jesus.

because:

Being at the feet of Jesus enables us to be the hands of Jesus.

“Service is the overflow of super-abounding devotion.”

— Oswald Chambers—

How much time do you spend with Jesus?

Is spending time with Jesus a task or a treasure?

Bonus: There is always room at the feet of Jesus.

or there is room for everyone at the feet of Jesus.

Jesus had women learning from him. That was considered unacceptable for a First-Century rabbi.

Myth 1: Religious busyness is the same as spiritual faithfulness

How can you tell if someone is godly? They go to church. (certainly not the only or even the most important indicator) . However, it does not follow that everyone who goes to church is godly.

While it is true that Jesus said, “By their fruits

Over these next several weeks we are not expecting to add to your life - to give you another task or item for your to-to list.

There is no greater threat to our devotion to Christ than our service for Christ.

Oswald Chambers

Myth 2: Jesus cares more about you as you do more for Him.

“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”

If you believe that religious busyness = spiritual faithfulness then you will likely believe that doing more for Jesus causes Jesus to love you more.

Martha assumed that Jesus was pleased with her busyness and would be displeased with Mary’s lack of work.

Reality is there is nothing you can do to make Jesus love you more (or less), because He love you before you did anything for Him.

Romans 5:8 (ESV)

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Matthew 11:28 (ESV)

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

One Action: Make time to know Jesus!

NOT FIND time to know Jesus.

How many of you have expendable time and don’t know what to do?

Jesus didn’t defend Mary by telling Martha that Mary was unable to help - that she wasn’t able to set the table, cut vegetables, etc.

Jesus said Mary CHOSE the good portion.

You will need to choose to spend time with Jesus.

When we

NOT make time know ABOUT.

Knowing about someone is different than knowing someone.

WHEN will you spend time with Jesus?

HOW will you get to know him?

Challenge:

Commit to spend 5 minutes with Jesus this week - not as a to do but as a get to. Not spending time on a task but spending time with a Person.

“Fully Devoted means full devotion”

— Pastor Jason—