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Time to Pack…

By January 16, 2014August 30th, 2022Devotional

The time has come to start packing up our current home and begin the move to the new place about a mile from here. This is the first time in more than 35 years that Janet and I have bought a home before selling the place that we currently owned. We had all these grand hopes of sorting through years of stuff and only moving the things that were really important to us. Of course, that idea went out the window and we have decided to just move it all and then sort through stuff on the other end. I know it is more time consuming and more expensive to do it that way, but it seems that we just can’t wrap our brains around what we will want when we start up in a new residence.

Janet and I have always believed that a house is an extension of who we are and, undeniably, we put our stamp on each place we inhabit. We try to get used to a place and see how it “lives.” In other words, how do our lives change and how does the house impact the decisions we make and how we live? We both believe that the new place has “good bones.” Sure there are things that will need to be changed, but those are the choices that make each home a personal space. Because no two couples live in a house the same way.

The verses tonight tell one of the shortest stories in the Bible. It’s the famous story of Mary and Martha. Martha opened their home to Jesus and then became annoyed when Mary sat at the feet of Jesus instead of helping with the preparations. Martha complained to Jesus but she didn’t get the response that she was expecting. Instead of asking Mary to help out, Jesus affirmed that Mary had chosen wisely. She was at the feet of Jesus and focusing on the relationship and not on the work. That great advice for all of us. And something that I need to remember as we take on the task of a huge move – the work isn’t nearly as important as the relationships – and that’s why we have so many people important to us who are helping with the work of preparing our next home.

In the Bible, Luke the physician tells us, in Luke 10:38-42, “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 only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

My encouragement this evening is that Jesus wants us to focus on the important things in our lives – and that means the relationships that we have a chance to enhance. My prayer is that you will make wise choices with opening up your home – just as we are trying to do. May God bless our efforts. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…

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