Sermon for 7/17/22 "Are We Distracted?" 14 Minutes

Luke 10:38-42

This morning I'll be reading Luke chapter 10 verses 38 through 42. And I'll be reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Luke 10:38-42 The scriptures that we look at this morning are from the same chapter that we looked at last Sunday. Luke 10:38–42 (HCSB) 38 While they were traveling, He entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what He said. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t You care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.” 41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.” God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this morning. Let us pray: Dear Lord,,, as we begin this morning,,, with everyone here today and all that are listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen. ----------------------------------------------------------- Last Sunday we looked at Luke 10:25-37 and we seen that we must answer the question,,, “Are We Obedient?”

Being sure that we answer the question of whether we are truly obedient to the commands of Jesus,,, or do we just go through the motions with those that attend church with us each Sunday!

Do we truly take care of the needs that we see,,, or do we turn aside and give excuses each time?

Do we even see any needs once we leave church and get in our communities,,, and if we do see a need,,, do we think that someone else will take care of it?

“Are we Obedient” as was the Samaritan?

Or,,, are we like the priest and Levite,,, as they made excuses?

We must remember that the expert in the law’s answer,,, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.,,, was correct,,, and that is possible only by paying attention to the Holy Spirit as He guides us each and every day.

We can’t do this by our power,,, God must help us,,, and that’s what Jesus tried to help them see,,, when He told this parable,,, as they were traveling on their way to Jerusalem.

And this morning,,, Jesus and those with Him are still traveling,,, as we look at these next verses in Luke this morning,,, and we see how they will help us in our walk with God this week.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 38 says: 38 While they were traveling, He entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.

The village that they entered while traveling,,, was Bethany,,, which we know because of the words in John 11:1 that says: “Now a man was sick, Lazarus, from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.”

And since Martha welcomed Him into her home,,, it seems to mean that Martha was the older sister,,, and perhaps owned the home.

Both Martha and Mary are the sisters of Lazarus that Jesus raised from the dead.

So Jesus knows this family well.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 39 says: 39 She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what He said.

Mary is seated at Jesus’ feet,,, which is the position that a student would be in,,, so apparently she is taught by Jesus as well as the disciples,,, or at the very least,,, allowed to listen.

In my commentary on the New Testament,,, it said,,, “we note the fact that Jesus seems to impute to Mary a clearer knowledge of his approaching death than even his disciples had attained,,, because in Matt. 26:12,,, it said,,, “By pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she has prepared Me for burial.”.

So this might have been the time that He gave her that knowledge,,, and it also suggested that the solemn sacrifice of the atonement may have been the focus of this present conversation.

And because of that,,, it suggested that it was no wonder,,, then,,, that she ignored the duties of the house,,, and helping her seemingly,,, more responsible sister.

Just a theory,,, but an interesting theory,,, and one that might help explain Mary acting the way that she did.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 40 says: 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t You care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.”

To Martha,,, the preparations that she was doing for Jesus was very important.

And there was a lot that needed to be completed in a short amount of time,,, since she had to get the furnishings ready,,, the food prepared,,, and the necessary cleaning.

So she is,,, distracted by her many tasks,,,, it says.

And she becomes aggravated.

But instead of complaining to her sister,,, she complains to Jesus.

Maybe,,, she is too aggravated to talk to her sister,,, or,,, jealous a little,,, that she is getting to spend more time with her guest!

Whatever the reason,,, she speaks to Jesus.

Trying to get Him to make her sister help her and leave the position that she had.

Instead,,, she receives a rebuke from Jesus,,, and a reminder to us today,,, that Mary has made the correct choice,,, as we see in the next verses.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 41 says: 41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things,

Martha allows all of the things that she think that she must do,,, to get in the way of what’s truly important,,, and that is listening to Jesus,,, and learning from Him while she has the chance,,, and she needs to do it before anything can distract her from what is really important.

And this leads us to the next verse that says:

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 42 says: 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Jesus tells Martha,,, Mary has made the right choice,

And this is something that we really need to hear today,,, because Satan is accomplishing more and more each day,,, and he is doing it a little bit at the time,,, day by day,,, making us busier and busier in our work,,, and in our play.

Jesus is telling Martha that the work that she is doing might be important,,, but listening to Jesus should be our first priority.

We can’t let anything get between us and Jesus.

And it can be work that we,,, like Martha,,, think is very important.

----------------------------------------------------------- If I make my primary focus to be getting finished with my sermon preparation and neglect my personal quiet time with God,,, then my spiritual life will suffer.

And that’s what almost happened this week,,, allowing my “busyness”,,, getting ready to leave,,, my sermon preparation,,, and my time at Annual conference,,, all,,, to distract me from my time with God,,, my personal time with God that is so critical to my relationship with Him.

It seemed like I was always needing to do something this week that I thought needed to get done.

God reminded me what was important,,, and set me straight,,, as He’s done before when I’ve strayed off the road that He has set for me.

And He will do you the same way.

God wants what is best for us,,, if we just pay attention and listen,,, without any distractions in our way.

----------------------------------------------------------- Martha was distracted.

We allow ourselves to get distracted today as well,,, and when that happens,,, just as Jesus rebuked Martha,,, He will rebuke us as well.

Being sure that we put God’s priorities first,,, and letting other things that we think are important,,, take care of themselves,,, we will have what’s important,,, and it will be something that,,, will not be taken away,,, just as He told Martha in this last verse.

No matter what happens to us in the future,,, if we pay attention and listen like we should,,, the Holy Spirit will correct us and guide us,,, as He puts us back on the correct path.

And once we listen correctly without all of the worldly distractions holding us back,,, we will eventually receive the prize,,, that can never be taken away.

----------------------------------------------------------- But we must ask ourselves the question,,, “Are We distracted?”,,, and if we are,,, what must we do to fix the situation quickly.

Martha made the correct choice when she went to the Lord and asked Him to help her,,, even though she wasn’t actually asking the right question,,, she got the right answer!

Jesus told her,,, just as He will tell you,,, that,,, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”.

Don’t allow your distractions to get between you and God,,, no matter what they may be,,, or how important you think they may be,,, nothing is more important,,, than your relationship with God,,, and the time that you need,,, to make that relationship strong and vibrant today.

Answer the question honestly,,, “Are We Distracted?”,,, and then be sure that you do whatever needs to be done,,, to strengthen that relationship at that time.

Because,,, “Distractions”,,, even “Distractions” that we think are important at the time,,, can keep us from the “Kingdom of God” if we aren’t careful,,, and we don’t want that to happen.

So be sure that you are observant to your daily routine and watch for things that get in your way of God’s voice,,, and be sure that you can hear Him,,, without any “Distractions” between you,,, and God!

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