Gather

Being able to gather is something we have all taken for granted.

Not tonight, I’m too tired, Too busy, The list of excuses seem unending.

Then the past two years happened where gathering was not possible for the sake of our health.

That has taken a toll on our lives for sure. We are now starving to gather, just longing to, we crave for some type of fellowship.

It is such a priviledge to be able to speak to you today. I see the ladies of our province as power houses of worship, prayer and people who are experts at bringing people together.

Let’s take a look at this scripture:

Luke 10:38–42 NLT

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. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. 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.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Prayer: The the words of my mouth and my heart be heart and heeded.

The main message of this text is to give us a glimpse of how important it is to gather with Jesus. One sister was far different then the other. As we take a look at these sisters ask yourself:

Which sister are you like?

Martha

Martha welcomed Jesus into her home.

Hospitality is impotant to many of us and it is also important in the Bible.

Martha has the gift of hospitality and wants to ensure that this is given to Jesus and done well.

We take time to ensure that others are welcomed into our home. We want to make sure every surface is shined and well cared for.

I get it. I too want to make sure others know they are welcome and I am sure you feel the same.

Getting prepared to welcome Jesus physically in my home I know I would go through a lot of preparations to ensure that things were just so.

Martha was feeling the need for things to be done well also. She took great honor and challenged herself to ensure things were done right in her home that she shared with her sister Mary. Things were well cleaned and prepared to receive Jesus.

Martha busied herself with the tasks of serving guests, although we don’t know what these exact tasks are we can assume what they were. A good guess would be meal preparations.

Martha was distracted by many tasks and comes to Jesus and asks:

Luke 10:40 NLT

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.”

Many may feel bad for Martha and expect her sister to get on her feet and help her with the tasks that she “should be doing”. To know her place and do her job well. Many may resent Mary for leaving her sister to do all the work and not accept her position in the cultural norm of the day.

Jesus’ response to Martha is not empathetic. He speaks strongly to her for her distraction and worry, and then praises Mary for her actions.

Luke 10:41–42 NLT

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

Jesus’ words to Martha are more like an invitation to her than a rebuke.

The problem with Martha is not that she is serving and being hospitable. This is not something that Jesus would ever be against.

The problem He has with Martha is the fact that she is worried and distracted.

The word “distracted” in v. 40 is known to mean being “pulled or dragged” in different directions.

Martha’s distractions and worry leave no room for the most important aspect of hospitality - gracious attention to guests,

She in fact breaks all the rules of hospitality, the one thing that is truly needed for true hospitality and that is to listen to your guest. How much more so is this true when this guest is Jesus!

Mary is in fact is doing hospitality better than her busy sister.

There is a big difference between challenging someone and welcoming them.

When I read this text in Luke I cannot help but ask the question “Do I put Jesus to the test or do I welcome Him into my life?”

Do I long to learn more or do simply want to it to look like I do?

Am I more concerned about how appearances are correct or is my heart hungry for everything God has for me?

Do I gather out of ritual or do I truly long for God to use me, speak to me and challenge me?

Sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to His Word is the one thing that is necessary in life and Mary get that.

Mary

Mary welcomed Jesus into her home

Instead of busying herself helping her sister she was found sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to His words. She did not do what was expected of her from cultural norms, she took her place at the feet of Jesus.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus, like a student learning and being taught the things of God from the one who knows the Father so well, what a priviledge. She wants to learn all she can at the feet of her rabbi but this was a role that was traditionally reserved for men.

I too would want to be there along with Mary, gaining as much wisdom and understanding as I can.

It seems like every time we encounter Mary of Bethany in the gospels she is at the feet of Jesus.

When her brother Lazarus dies in John 11:32

John 11:32 NLT

When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

and when she anointed Jesus feet before His death John 12:3

John 12:3 NLT

Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

Mary hungered for knowledge. She desired to learn everything that Jesus wanted to share. She did not care if this made her look inproper in the eyes of society. I can’t help but identify with Mary in more ways than one here. I too understand what it means to be stepping outside of society and cultural norms but we have to be obedient when God calls and heed His calling.

It is not easy to go against the norm but it is important to hear and heed God’s voice and not just go with the flow to keep the peace.

Often times we get so caught up in how things look we forget that our desire should be to please God most importantly. We should not be afraid to hear and heed His voice, no matter how uncomfortable it is or difficult it may get.

I am so glad that Jesus does not get caught up in gender. That He equips us and stands with us.

Jesus

Jesus was welcomed into the house of Mary and Martha. They were friends.

It is really important to note that Jesus was willing to visit these women and to take the time to teach them.

He saw educating these ladies, ladies in general about the things of God as significant and important.

Noting this affirms my calling, affirms my place in the kingdom of God and affirms me to share this with other ladies.

To ensure each one of us realizes our importance to Christ and the need for us to know Him and be led by Him. This shows the value that God puts on every person.

Jesus teaches us that we need to hold on to Him even in the midst of busy schedules.

We need to take the time, make the time and enjoy the time sitting at His feet, which Jesus says is the one necessary thing.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus is needed, yes, we agree. But do we do this consistently? Or is it a struggle you’d rather not talk about?

I hope to motivate you as to why sitting at the feet of Jesus is so necessary.

Spend time in God’s word, get into it.

Spend time with the Lord in prayer. If you have lost your motivation hear the call given to Mary by Jesus. Her action is a necessary thing.

This should be reason enough for us to do so.

Sitting at His feet:

Gives wisdom for action and direction in life

Jesus is none other than the Lord God, His word is God’s word.

We may think if only I could be able to do what Mary did and hear Jesus like she was able to.

Remember this: we all have the inspired word of God yet we often neglect it.

God has given us “everything pertaining to life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3) in His Word.

Spending time in God’s Word allows us to grow in salvation, to overcome temptation, gives knowledge about how to love God and each other.

We need to realize that God’s Word has what we need.

God’s Word gives wisdom that leads to salvation and understanding that we need to grow in our relationship with Him, give perspective we need to face trials in life and His Word promises hope beyond death. So no wonder Mary sat listening to the Word of the Lord.

2. Puts us into right living with God.

By Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to His word shows us that she had communion with Jesus. She had fellowship with Him. She was hanging onto His words just like the two men on the Emmaus Road.

Imgine how it was for her when she heard Jesus explain the scriptures. Mary developed a sensitivity that allowed her to anoint Him for His burial, which is what Jesus said would be remembered whenever the gospel is preached.

Spending time in the Word is not something to check of on our to do list or a goal chart. It is a time to meet with and commune with God as Mary did by sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to His words.

3. Puts the pressures of life in proper perspective

There is power in the Word of God. We get stressed out in life. Martha was stressed by the pressure of preparing the meal for the honored guests. She thought about it for days, worrying about getting everything right. She focused on the pressures, she ended up worried and bothered by many things. She is so riled up about things that she even blurts out to Jesus that he needed to make her sister help her out, to know her place, and not leave her to stress and work alone.

She needed to join her sister at Jesus’ feet, all those pressures would have fallen into proper perspective.

We so easily allow the pressures of life to cloud our minds and overwhelm our hearts. Sometimes we even think that spending time with God will only take away from the precious time that we need to get things accomplished.

A few minutes spent with God allows us to get our focus off the wrong things to the right. It will lift the burden, it will clear perspective and rejuvenate the mind. Even though our circumstances have not changed.

4. God’s Word cannot be taken from us

Mary practices Deut. 8:3

Deuteronomy 8:3 NLT

Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

You can loose a lot in life but you won’t loose the time you spend in the presence of the Lord.

You can loose your job, money, all you own, friendships.

But as Paul says in Rom 8 nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!

If spending time at Jesus feet and listening to His Word is so good then why don’t we do it more often?

Too busy

Distracted

Afraid what others will think

Conclusion:

When we gather do we give it our all?

Do we come out of routine or hunger?

Do we desire that God stirs our hearts?

Do you desire that things “look right”, “work right”, “feel right” or do we yearn for a move of God in us personally as well as corporately?

Do we truly miss gathering? Or do we miss the routine of meeting regularly that covid interrupted?

I pray that as we can now gather in our groups we come together with a fresh desire for God to speak to us personally and as a group. That He would do a new thing in us.

That the old routines would no longer be desired or recognizable to us.

1. Stop blaming others and commit to change.

2. Start simply, be realistic and work up from there.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus is something Mary CHOSE to do!

It does not happen by accident or choose once and it’s settled. You have to keep choosing it over and over again, day in and day out, by saying no to other things and say yes to the necessary thing.

So gather, sit, listen and realize that this is the necessary thing for those who follow Him.

If you do this well and consistently you will see such positive results in your relationship with God. How exciting is this?

In a culture where hectic schedules and the relentless pursuit of productivity exists, we are tempted to measure our worth by busyness, how much we accomplish or meet the expectations of others.

Today, I want to remind you it is not about these things. It is about encountering God, knowing God, hearing God.

May we look at this as the most needed thing. The most important need that drives us.

We may feel pulled in different directions, feel worried and distracted - let that be part of the pre covid times.

Let us now learn that we do not add to our lives by worrying. Worrying does us no good.

Busyness and distraction may come from good intentions its not the answer.

Indeed we need workers, we need Martha’s, those who faithfully perform tasks, hospitality and service.

But these activities should not leave us no time to spend in God’s presence and hear God’s voice.

Without God’s presence - we will end up anxious and troubled. We are likely to end up feeling unfulfilled and without love and being resentful of others.

We need to listen, receive God’s word and serve others, these things are vital to Christian life. Just as inhaling and exhaling is for us to breath.

We are invited all who worry, all who are distracted, all who are tired and weak to sit and rest in His presence, hear His words of grace and truth, to know that we are loved and valued as His children and to be renewed in our faith and strengthened for His service.

So next steps start sitting at His feet. Revel in His presence. Grow stronger in His presence and do the work as strong women of God that we are called to be.

Start today

Start right now

Do whatever it takes!