ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (JUNE 28, 2012)

Willing Work

Luke 10:38-42;

John 11:23-27

"And whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
(Colossians 3:17)

It sometimes happens - we invite guests we dearly love. Then, attempting to make their stay perfect, we become exhausted and begin to feel sorry for ourselves, even complaining in these times.

Martha is known for whining to Jesus about her sister Mary not helping her. It must have taken an enormous amount of work to make sure there were baths, washed clothing, bedding and food for that group of road-weary, hungry itinerant men. To Martha's credit, her heart was in the right place. When Jesus asked her, "Do you believe?" she responded, "Yes...I believe you are the Christ, the Son of God...."

My guess is that Martha enjoyed serving. She could have sat listening to Jesus and let her servants do the chores, but the Bible says at another dinner, "Martha served...." That meal wasn't even in her home! What Martha needed to learn, however, was to use her gift of hospitality with a thankful heart out of her love for Jesus.

Do our words and actions reflect the name of Jesus? Are we giving thanks to Him?

INSIGHT
"May I do each day's work for Jesus, with eternity's values in view."
(Alfred B. Smith)

READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Job 13-14
Psalm 49
Luke 12

Luke 10:38-42
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
At the Home of Martha and Mary
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Footnotes:
a. Luke 10:42 Some manuscripts but few things are needed—or only one
John 11:23-27
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ,[a] the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
Footnotes:
a. John 11:27 Or Messiah


KNOWING THE NAMES OF GOD

What is in a name? Parents get to choose their children's names, but what about God? His names point to his character. They give us a deeper dimension of who he is and how he acts.