Listening to God’s Word

Let's hear God's word together.

But mark this, there will be terrible times in the last days.

People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient

to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control,

brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather

than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power, have nothing to do with

such people.

They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women who are

loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but

never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Just as Janes and Jambres oppose Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth.

They are men of depraved minds who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected.

But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be

clear to everyone.

You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience,

love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings.

What kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra?

The persecutions I endured, yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.

In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while

evildoers and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know

those from whom you learned it.

And how from infancy you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise

for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training

in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good

work.

Amen.

Let's once again take some time to pray together.

Let's pray.

Father God, as we read that sobering account of life in the last days, we would begin our

time of prayer confessing our sin before you, acknowledging that we have sinned against you

in thought, in word, and in action, in the things that we have done and in the things we have

left undone.

Lord, we have not loved you with our whole heart.

We have not loved our neighbor as ourselves.

Lord, as we stand under your word, under your law, we would confess and we would repent.

And we would ask that for the sake of your son Jesus, you would have mercy on us.

Lord, we thank you for the promise, for the assurance that if we confess our sins, you are faithful

and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Lord, we pray for ourselves as a church and we pray for our wider community today.

Lord, we pray for anybody here who feels a sense of loneliness, perhaps far from home, far from family

and friends, those who are feeling a sense of isolation, perhaps because of the struggles of life.

Lord, we thank you for that promise that in Jesus we have a friend who sticks closer than any brother,

that we have the promise from Jesus, that he will never leave or forsake any of his people,

that wherever we are we go with your spirit if we belong to you.

And so we pray for comfort and encouragement and strength that comes from yourself.

We also pray that this church would be a place of real community and family for many people,

whether they're from Scotland or for people all around the world.

Lord, we pray for any here today who have particular burdens that they are carrying, anxieties for themselves or for others,

stress because of any number of factors.

Lord, we thank you again for Jesus, the one who invites us to lay our burdens down,

to find rest from him and to find rest in him.

Lord, we thank you for the gift of prayer,

that when we find ourselves anxious and perplexed and confused,

and sorrowing,

that we can turn our eyes to the God who made the heavens and the earth,

the God who is higher than us,

the God who promises to be a rock,

a source of strength and refuge.

And so we pray that for any who are particularly anxious,

that they would know to turn to you,

and that they would find comfort and strength from you,

this day and this week.

Lord, we pray for those who are suffering because of ill health.

We think of those who are undergoing treatments of various kinds,

for those who are awaiting results of tests and surgeries.

Lord, again, in those moments of fear and those doubts and questions come,

Lord, may your spirit come and draw near and give hope and give peace.

Lord, that sometimes the waves seem to break over and over.

We thank you that Jesus is the one who could speak to the storm and say,

be still.

Lord, we pray that you would quiet stormy hearts today because of your great grace and your goodness.

Lord, we pray today for those who are here who may be searching to find you as the one true God.

We pray that as we spend time together reading the Bible and thinking about it,

as we pray, as we sing,

Lord, that you would be revealing yourself,

you'd be revealing Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life,

that you would be pleasing to draw people to faith and to know you as their God.

We pray for your people as we seek to live for you in the world,

as you call us to be salt and light.

We thank you that you know each one of us.

You know where we spend our time.

You know the people that we spend time with.

You know the opportunities that we have to speak about Jesus.

You know the challenges we have to live for Jesus.

And so we pray for each one of your people that we would be depending on you as our Father,

that we would be looking to Jesus our Savior,

that we'd be finding strength that comes from the Holy Spirit within us,

so that we might bear witness to the hope that we have,

and that you might be pleased to bring into our lives those who need that hope,

those who need living truth,

and that you might work salvation in their hearts also.

Lord, we pray as we have thought from your word about the importance of your word,

and we pray for your word as it goes into the world today,

as people will be preaching it in churches all around the world,

as people will be speaking truth together around the world,

and may you cause faith to be strengthened,

and may you cause faith to come to life all around this world.

And what we pray for our world, we pray for our country.

Lord, will you strengthen your church and your people?

Will you renew and revive?

And Lord, as we realize how important your word is,

we pray for the work of a Bible translation,

and we thank you for those who use their gifts

to help to translate the Bible into different languages,

so people can hear good news for themselves.

And we thank you for the work of Bible societies all around the world,

as they look to make the Bible available

to people who long to read it,

who need to read it.

And so Lord, we pray that your word,

which is living and active,

would be living and active around the world today,

and it be living and active in our hearts today,

that you would speak,

and that we would listen,

and that we would be changed.

We pray in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Now we're going to sing a section of Psalm 119 together,

sometimes described as the great love song to the Bible

that we have in the Bible.

We're going to sing the section from Psalm,

from verse 105.

And again, as we're able,

let's stand together so we can sing.

Your word's a lamp that shines before my feet.

It is a light that guides me on my way.

The oath that I have taken,

I've confirmed,

that all your righteous laws I will obey.

Oh, Lord, you know that I have suffered much.

Preserve my life according to your words.

Accept the willing praises of my mouth.

Instruct me in your righteous laws, O Lord.

I will not disregard your holy law,

though constantly my life is in my hands.

Although the wicked set a snare for me,

I have not left the path of your commands.

Your statutes are my heritage always,

grace.

And every day they make my heart rejoice.

My heart is set on keeping your decrees.

And to the very end they are my choice.

Now, can you turn with me to Luke's gospel

and chapter 10.

Again, if you're using your church Bibles,

you'll find on page 1042.

And we're going to read this short section

at the end of chapter 10,

where Jesus enters the home of Martha and Mary.

And we'll think together about listening

to God's words.

So let's hear God's word.

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way,

he came to a village where a woman named Martha

opened her home to him.

She had a sister called Mary,

who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.

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.

Martha, Martha, the Lord answered,

you are worried and upset about many things,

but a few things are needed,

or indeed only one.

Mary has chosen what is better,

and it will not be taken away from her.

Amen.

So there's a wonderful little section here,

which we'll get to.

But before we get to it,

I want to talk just for a couple of minutes

about a chap by the name of Carl Newport.

Now, some of you maybe have heard of him.

He writes and speaks about deep working

and about digital minimalism.

So this is a key guy for thinking about deep working,

thinking about making space

to have uninterrupted time to read,

to think, to research, to write.

He examined his own life,

probably recognizes the challenges

that belong to many of us,

the challenge of disruptive and distracting social media,

the problem of constant interruptions,

because of technology,

and also the pull of shallow work,

those other tasks that are not the main tasks

that can pull us away from deep working,

deep thinking.

And so the answer for Carl Newport

was to begin to practice digital minimalism,

to maximize focus by minimizing the time spent

with technology and on social media.

And he writes and speaks about that process

of retraining one's brain

to be able to focus deeply

on whatever is being read and researched.

Now, why talk about this?

Well, we talk about it

because probably it's an experience

many of us recognize.

But there is something in this

for us as disciples,

as followers of Jesus too.

As we get into this text,

we understand that Mary and Martha

and we too are being called to deep listening,

to be devoted to Jesus' words.

That in this text,

we find the challenge of distractions,

that even good things in our lives

can take us away from Jesus' words.

And we hear the call from Jesus himself

to refocus,

to choose the one necessary thing,

to sit at Jesus' feet.

So we're going to see that today.

Again, before we get into the text directly,

there's something we need to recognize

that Luke has done in his gospel.

He's pulled this meeting with Mary and Martha

out of its expected sequence.

So Mary and Martha live in a place called Bethany.

We know Jesus is on a journey to Jerusalem,

but by this stage in Luke 10,

he hasn't actually reached Bethany yet.

So what Luke is doing

is he's taking a later story

and he's pulling it back in time

to place it here.

And so we need to ask ourselves,

why is he placing it here?

I want to give us two suggestions

and we'll come back to these.

One suggestion.

So last week, if you remember,

Jesus has a discussion

about keeping the two great commandments

about love for God

and love for our neighbor.

And last week,

we thought about the Good Samaritan.

What does it look like to love our neighbor?

It looks like showing mercy,

being sacrificial,

with our time,

with our energy,

with our resources.

This week,

and next time we come back

to Luke chapter 11,

Luke 11 · chapter mention

the focus is going to be,

how do we grow in our love for God?

The focus this week,

listening to the words of God,

listening to the words of Jesus.

Next week,

next time,

it's going to be about prayer.

So there's a nice balance here

that's created.

There's balance for the follower of Jesus.

Last week,

good works,

activity,

caring for God's world.

This week,

good listening,

and reflection,

and spending time in God's word.

And as followers of Jesus,

we need both.

And we need that balance.

But our focus,

this time,

is going to be on listening to God's word.

And there's three portraits

that we have here in this chapter,

in this little section,

that will help us to see

that since Jesus is Lord,

we must listen to him.

Okay,

first portrait

is that of a stressed out servant.

Let's look at Martha

for a few moments.

Verse 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.

Okay,

so,

Martha,

we're being presented

to someone who is

most likely the elder sister

in this family.

She's being presented

as the hostess.

And she's being presented

positively,

because what does she do?

She welcomes Jesus in.

When Jesus sent out

his 72 disciples,

he spoke about the importance

of welcoming Jesus

and his people in.

She is a follower.

She's enjoying the peace of God.

She receives him well.

But it doesn't take long

before stress begins to develop.

Verse 40,

Martha was distracted

by all the preparations

that had to be made.

Here is a picture of someone

who has become crazy busy,

looking to do a good thing,

to show hospitality to Jesus,

to serve Jesus a nice meal.

She has now become distracted.

She is over busy.

She's going round in circles.

And with that

comes frustration.

She came to Jesus

and asked,

Lord,

don't you care

that my sister's left me

to do the work by myself?

She's frustrated with Jesus.

She's judging her sister.

Maybe just sitting there

doing nothing

while I'm busy

getting the meal ready.

And her solution,

get Mary to come help me

in the kitchen.

Now,

how does Jesus respond

to Martha?

Notice,

first of all,

that he responds

tenderly

and kindly.

Martha,

Martha,

the Lord answered.

You're worried

and upset

about many things.

Martha,

you're being disturbed

and distracted.

Why?

Because you've lost focus.

Few things are needed

or indeed,

only one.

Jesus didn't come

needing a fancy meal.

Martha does need

to listen to Jesus.

And in all her busyness,

she's lost that focus.

So,

Jesus has been welcomed in,

but at the same time,

Martha is in danger

in this moment

of missing out

on fellowship

and friendship

with her Lord

and her King.

And so,

Jesus kindly,

wisely

says to her,

Martha,

it's time to put the pans down.

It's time to put

the to-do list away.

It's time to come

and listen

and learn

and to receive

and to receive

my love.

Jesus speaks

to Martha,

this stressed out servant,

and says,

you know what?

It's time for you

in this moment

to stop serving.

Instead,

it's time to be served.

Receive grace

from me

and from my words.

So,

as we come into

Luke's portrait gallery

and as we examine

Martha,

as we stop

and look at her life,

do we see something

of ourselves there?

In our busyness,

maybe we feel

that we're chasing

ourselves in circles,

pulled away,

distracted

from the best thing,

time with Jesus

and his word,

by the many things,

by the many good things

that we're doing.

Perhaps it's easy

to see ourselves here.

Where do distractions

come from?

For Martha,

it was cooking,

it was hospitality,

I was looking

to serve Jesus there.

Where do distractions

come from for us?

Maybe first and foremost,

they come from our culture.

People say we live

in the age of distraction

because of technology,

because we're always connected,

because we're surrounded

by entertainment

and by noise.

Do we find that

that distracts us

from time

spent with Jesus?

Maybe it's because

of career.

Like Martha,

she was a homemaker,

she was a hostess,

she took that

really seriously,

but that distracted her

in that moment

from the best thing,

time with Jesus.

Maybe that's the challenge

for us,

high pressure,

long hours,

the need to always

be available

where we find it

hard to switch off.

Maybe it's concerns.

That word

in verse 41

that Jesus uses,

you are worried

and upset

about many things.

That word worried

comes up again

in chapter 12.

The worries

that can come.

Chapter 12,

verse 11.

When you are brought

before synagogues,

rulers and authorities,

do not worry

about how you'll

defend yourselves

or what you'll say.

So we can be concerned

about spiritual opposition.

or further on

in the chapter,

chapter 12,

verse 22.

Therefore I tell you,

do not worry

about your life,

what you'll eat

or about your body,

what you'll wear.

Our daily needs,

what we need

for each day,

those concerns

can distract us

from our time

with Jesus.

Without care

and protection,

as Martha shows us,

time with Jesus,

time in God's word,

can get swallowed up.

And we can miss

that wonderful truth

of a quiet heart

still before our God.

How do we fight distraction

so we can hear God's word?

Let me make three suggestions

for us.

The first is about depending.

Again, I suspect

I'm not alone in this,

recognizing that the temptation

for busy Christians,

if we have a lot

on our plate,

a lot of tasks

to perform,

the first thing

that's likely

to get dropped

is either

Bible reading

or prayer

or maybe both.

We know what we're doing.

God has resourced us

so we work

in our own strength

and we're self-reliant.

Maybe we need to learn

from Martha

that first,

Jesus must serve us.

In the word of God,

we must receive grace

from him

if we are to serve well.

We depend

like children

before our Father

in heaven

and so we are

to come hungry

knowing that

Jesus promises

to satisfy.

How else

to fight

distraction?

Let's think

about

dropping.

First of all,

dropping the pace

of life

so that we have

time with God.

Being crazy busy

can almost seem

like a badge of honour

in our culture

and society

but it's not good

for the people of God

to live without margins,

to live without time

that we can give

to unhurried time

with our God

and our Saviour.

Maybe you've heard

of John Wesley,

famous preacher

in the 18th century.

He had a band

of travelling preachers

under his care

and he gave them

a wonderful piece

of advice.

He said to them,

when you travel,

travel with a slack rein.

So they're riding horses,

don't be going

full pelt,

slow down.

Why did he tell them that?

It was so that

as they journeyed,

they could be thinking

about God's word of truth

and they would have time

to pray.

In the 18th century,

Wesley was thinking

about how do we

redeem our commute?

How can we use

our travelling time

so that we can be fed

by God's word

so that we're not

always hurried

so that we can have

a tranquil,

peaceful heart?

What will that look like

for you and I today

living in the 21st century

to ride with slack reins

so that we have time

with God

so that our hearts

are not stirred up

with so much noise?

We need to drop

the pace of life

and we need to drop

some of the noise

out of our time,

out of our lives

so that we can hear

the word of God.

Maybe that will mean

quite literally,

I've been trying to do this

this week,

find it super helpful,

if I'm reading my Bible

in this room,

I'm going to drop

my phone and my laptop

in that room over there.

We need to think

really carefully

to make sure

that we have

undivided time

with our God.

Depending and dropping,

if we want to fight

distraction,

we need to learn

delighting as well.

One and only time

I tried scuba diving

when we had family

living in the Philippines

was an absolute disaster.

I discovered

that I am freakishly buoyant.

Everybody else

was getting down

to the bottom,

no problemo.

Even when they put weights

on my wetsuit,

I would still bubble

up to the top.

And so I found myself

stuck paddling

on the surface.

I don't know why.

But you know,

that often describes

my faith.

And I wonder

if that describes

the faith of you

as well.

Where we find

ourselves content

with a little bit

of paddling

rather than really

diving into

the rich treasures

that we have

in God's Word.

The world

crowds in

and disrupts.

And we find

that we're grabbing

a minute

or two minutes.

We don't have

quality time

to really sink

and settle

into how wonderful

God's Word is.

We need to fight,

discipline ourselves

in order

to find

that delight

of meeting

with God

in His Word.

See,

Martha had this

amazing moment.

Here is the

King of the Universe

sitting in her

front room.

Her teacher

and her Lord

who would share

unhurried time

with her

and her family.

this Savior

who would speak

words of love

and truth

and life

into her heart

and her mind

but she almost

missed it.

Because she was

caught up in

preparing a fancy

meal,

caught up in the

stress of serving.

We also have

an incredible

privilege.

Jesus meets

with us today

by His Spirit.

God would speak

to us today

in His living

Word of God.

Jesus invites us

into fellowship

to be served

by Him

as we gather

together

in His presence.

Let's not miss it.

Let Jesus

speak

verse 41

and verse 42

directly

to your heart

today.

James,

James,

you are worried

and upset

about many

things,

but few

things are

needed,

or indeed

only one.

Don't miss it

when Jesus

offers us Himself.

That's the first

portrait.

Second portrait

is that of Mary.

Here is a portrait

of someone

who is listening

to the Lord.

And as we look

at this portrait

that Luke draws

of Mary,

two details

are in view.

First of all,

her posture.

Look at verse 39.

She had a sister

called Mary

who sat

at the Lord's feet

listening

to what He said.

This is restful.

This is

quiet trust.

This is sitting

to listen

and to learn.

But it's also

radical.

And we shouldn't

miss this.

Because in the

first century,

it would have

been a shocking

thing that the

model disciple

being presented

to us

is a woman.

Notice this

wonderful truth

that Jesus

rejects the

sexism of the

first century

just as He

would reject

the 21st century

abuse of

power that we

are hearing

about all

too often.

We have the

wonderful,

gracious,

welcoming

Savior who

invites anyone

to come and

listen.

There is

humility in

this posture,

isn't there?

Sitting at

Jesus' feet

like a servant

before her

master and

her king.

There's a

tension in

her posture.

She's listening

in like a

student before

her teacher,

her master.

The Lord

of the universe,

the eternal

Son of God,

the Savior of

the world,

has rung

their doorbell

and Mary

takes full

advantage.

And there's

this wonderful

gift.

Here is the

Savior on

his journey

to save

her,

to go to

Jerusalem,

to die for

her,

and he sits

to talk with

her.

And she

gives full

attention.

She's listening

to the

Lord.

So there's

her posture

there,

but also we

need to

recognize that

Jesus draws

attention to

her priority

also.

To read

again,

verse 42,

few things

are needed,

or indeed

only one.

Mary has

chosen what

is better,

and it will

not be taken

away from

her.

That one

thing necessary

was not a

fancy meal,

it was not

frantic activity,

it was to

sit at

Jesus'

feet and

to learn

from him.

The better

portion that

Mary has

chosen,

quality time

with the

Lord Jesus,

listening to

his word.

Now again,

think about

those two

details.

Think about

her posture,

think about

her priority.

How would

our portrait

look?

Honestly,

as we sit

here today,

and how does

God want

our portrait

to look?

Think about

our posture.

I know

some of us,

we know

pain,

regularly or

occasionally,

of a body

that gets

out of

alignment.

And the

truth is that

the same

thing can

happen

spiritually.

And we

need the

word of

God to

do that

spiritual

physio

work to

realign us

so that

our posture

is right.

Think about

what the

Bible says

about itself.

So in

Psalm 119,

we read,

your word

is a lamp

to my feet.

Is

God's word

what directs

our lives,

what directs

our decisions,

our attitudes,

our actions?

God's word

is described

as sweeter

than honey.

It is

supposed to

give joy

and delight.

Do we

approach it

with that

sense of

joyful

expectation

and anticipation?

Jesus

said that

him and

his words

are like a

solid rock

foundation.

So when

the storms

of life

come,

when the

storm of

judgment

would come,

we would

stand firm.

Is

God's

word the

foundation

your life,

my life,

is built

on?

The Bible

describes

itself as

the sword

of the

spirit.

When we

face

spiritual

battle

and trial

and temptation,

do we

take it

up and

read it

and rely

upon it?

Do we

have a

posture of

humility

towards the

Bible?

Are we

ready to

submit to

it,

even when

it challenges

us,

even when

it exposes

sin in our

lives?

Do we

let it

judge us

rather than

us seeking

to stand

in judgment

over

God's

word?

Is it

our rule

for a

life of

godliness?

Do we

have that

posture of

attention

where we're

letting it

do its

work?

Remember

what Paul

wrote to

Timothy,

that God's

word teaches

and rebukes

and corrects

and trains

in righteousness.

Do we

allow God's

word to

do its

work?

Do we

do what

it says?

Are we

meditating

upon it

day and

night?

Are we

seeking to

find Christ

in all

of

scripture?

And what

about when

it comes

to our

priority?

We see

clearly

Mary's

priority

in our

crazy

busy

world,

with our

busy

lives,

where does

the word

of God

fit?

Does

the word

of God

fit?

remember

what we

have

when we

pick up

our

Bibles.

We have

what so

many people

are looking

for.

They're

looking to

connect

with God.

They're

looking to

find where

can I

meet with

God?

We meet

God in

his word.

This is the

place where

God would

speak to

us,

where we

can actually

meet with

Christ

Jesus,

to understand

that we

have the

same

privilege as

Mary.

Every time

we open

our Bible,

that should

help us to

make it a

priority,

that we

can sit

at Jesus'

feet every

time we

come to

church or

we open

a Bible.

Think about

that.

When we

come to

church,

this is no

ordinary

thing.

We have

a standing

weekly

invitation to

fellowship with

the Lord

Jesus,

the King

and Savior.

that privilege

that Mary

enjoyed,

we get to

enjoy every

week.

We can

listen to

him every

week.

We can

meet him

together as

we worship.

So as we

understand that,

let's not

let lesser

things,

even when

like Martha

they're good

things,

take us from

the bigger and

better joy of

knowing Jesus

in his

word.

Last

portrait,

and it's

the portrait

of Jesus

himself.

Jesus as

he shows

and brings

the grace

of God.

Now remember

this is all

happening in

the context

of hospitality

and of

sharing a

meal,

and that

kind of

imagery is

helpful for

us as we

consider Luke's

portrait of

Jesus.

Think first

of all about

an open

table.

Recognize in

this little

section we're

being reminded

that there

are no

boundaries,

there are

no limits

to God's

grace.

Just as we

said a few

moments ago,

the model

disciple would

have shocked

people in

Jesus' day

because it

was Mary.

All of the

Gospels are

telling us

Jesus will

teach anyone,

Jesus will

share friendship

with anyone

who will

listen,

who will

follow,

who will

believe.

Nothing has

changed on

that.

Jesus is on

his journey

to the

cross to

extend the

grace of

forgiveness so

that whoever

believes in

him should

not perish but

have everlasting

life.

Whoever we

are,

wherever we're

from,

Jesus invites

us to meet

with him,

to receive God's

love from him,

to be welcomed

into friendship

and fellowship

by him.

He has an

open table.

Let's think

also about a

balanced diet

to put those

two stories

together, the

Good Samaritan

and Martha and

Mary, on the

way of Jesus.

These are

stories taking

place while

Jesus is on a

journey.

While we are

on the journey

of following

Jesus, there is

to be service,

like the Good

Samaritan showing

love for

neighbor, and

there is to be

silence,

quiet hearts,

listening to

Jesus, slowing

down to listen

in.

We are called

to love God's

world, to meet

people's needs, and

to show mercy, and

we're called to

love God's word, to

hear Jesus, to

obey Jesus.

This is the

wonderful balance

we see in Jesus'

own life.

To read the

Gospels, we read

there are some

days where Jesus

seems to spend

all his time

healing people,

and teaching

people, but we

also discover he

spends whole

nights of quiet

time, a prayer

with his

father.

Jesus loved to

bring in the

kingdom through

his miracles, and

he loved to

teach, and show

that he is the

king bringing the

kingdom of God.

So while the

emphasis on our

text today is on

the priority of

time with God in

his word, we can

understand that

that's also of

relevance as we

think about going

out into the

world and of

serving.

as we meet

with Jesus, as

he would change

our heart, as

we would receive

spiritual power, as

we would know

God's will for how

to please him, that's

going to help us

as we look to

help others.

One last thing as

we think about this

portrait of Jesus,

is to recognize

that because Jesus

is so gracious, we

have an invitation

to a feast.

See, we could

finish a sermon

like this with a

call to duty.

Christians, you

should read your

Bible.

Christians, you

should be in

church.

And of course, those

things are true, and

we don't want to

miss that.

But there's a

better way, by

reminding ourselves

of the privilege we

have, that we're

invited to a

wonderful, joyful

feast.

As God's word

says, taste and

see that the

Lord is good.

Sunday by Sunday,

recognize and

enjoy the fact that

Jesus comes to

meet with us as

his people, that

he comes to

feed us from

his word, that

he wants to

satisfy our

hearts' desires

with himself and

to increase our

delight in him.

And recognize

again, every time

you and I open

our Bible,

whenever we do

that, we're

invited to the

joy of hearing

from the living

God, of meeting

with our God

and Savior.

So together,

will we slow

down?

Will we switch

off so that we

can spend time

with Jesus and

receive the bread

of life from

him?

Let me pray for

us.

Let's pray.

Lord, our God,

we thank you for

this little story

which is so

revealing of

us and for

us.

Lord, so

often we can

find ourselves

so busy,

busy with

necessary things,

busy with

good things,

that time with

you can be

squeezed out.

Now, that time

reading the

Bible, time to

pray, time to

worship with

God's people,

can seem like

an optional

extra, rather

than being the

air we need to

breathe, the

food and the

water that we

need in order

to live well

and to

flourish.

Lord, will

you make us

wise as we

think about our

own lives and

situations, make

us wise to

see how we

might make

changes, how

we might find

the time to

spend with

you, to be

served by

you, to

receive grace

from you, and

not just for a

moment, but

you might give

us the

privilege of

unhurried time

with Jesus

our Savior.

Lord, as we've

heard Jesus

say that

listening to

him is the

better portion,

it's the one

thing that's

necessary, will

you help us to

pay attention

when we read

the Bible and

when we come

to church, that

we would be

shaped by what

we read, that

we would be

growing to be

more like

Jesus our

Savior, that

we would allow

your word to

do its work

in our lives.

And Lord, will

you keep showing

us more grace

through Jesus our

wonderful Savior.

We thank you

that he is so

kind, that he

would meet with

us, to speak

to us, to

give us strength

for our journey

of faith.

help us to

choose wisely.

Help us to

choose for our

ultimate good.

We pray in

Jesus' name.

Amen.

Now, we'll

close singing

the hymn,

Speak, O

Lord, reminding

us again of

what God would

do for us in

his word.

So let's stand

as we're able

to sing, Speak,

O Lord.

or

Be your