We’ve been studying Luke in the Engage Bible Study. The more I get to know Luke’s gospel, the more amazed I am by the genius of how it was woven together. It is truly stunning.
Recently I was looking at two stories which exist side-by-side in Luke 10: the story of the Good Samaritan and the story of Mary and Martha. In the first story Jesus points an expert in religious law to the example of the Good Samaritan and says, “Go and do.” In the second story Jesus confronts a frantic Martha and says, “Stop and be.” If we were to ask Jesus which story is for us I think he would say, “Yes!”
There’s a balance in life, a kind of inhaling and exhaling. We need to tend to our soul. We need daily time in which to be still in God’s presence, breathing in God’s love and listening for God’s voice in Scripture and prayer. But we also need to do – to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God. Too much doing leaves us empty and bitter. But if all we do is read the Bible, pray, and never put our feet to the floor we’re likely to become prideful, judgmental and complacent.
In my experience each person has a “bent” in one direction or another. We’re like cars out of alignment which veer into the ditch unless we hold the wheel. Some of us are bent toward a rich devotional life. Others of us are bent toward serving. And not only are people bent one way or another, so are congregations. In my observation Prince of Peace is bent toward doing. We are a people who love to serve. And I love that about us. I love that we have a passion to feed the hungry, serve the poor, and love the “least of these” among us.
But I wonder: how is your devotional life? How are you, yes you, doing at taking time daily to soak in God’s love, engaging in scripture and prayer? How are you doing at tending to your soul? Truth is I’m bent toward doing. I really have to work at nurturing my soul. I’m more comfortable getting things done than being still and listening for that still, small voice. But I’ve also learned that when I maintain a balance between inhaling and exhaling I experience greater peace and greater productivity.
So let me ask you again: how is your devotional life? Need some help in that area? Check out the Devotional Tools that we produce each week. You’ll find printed copies in the Community Room, or you can download a copy anytime from the front page of our website. Click here to download a copy now.
Or, join me in a daily reading plan produced by the Canadian Bible Society. Just follow these simple instructions:
- Click here to view sign-up page.
- To have the daily reading e-mailed to you – enter your email address and click “go.”
- To download a pdf version of the reading plan click “download Protestant edition.”
And if you’re on Facebook, send me a friend request. Most days I write a thought or two about the daily reading.
Whatever your bent, I want to encourage you to find balance this year. So, breathe in and breathe out and enjoy greater peace and productivity!
Thanks for your partnership in ministry,
Jeff Marian, Lead Pastor