Time with Jesus - Thursday, 14 June
2012
Hi all,
The story of Mary, Martha and
Jesus is featured today. I’ve tried to make it relevant for the 21st
century including the pressure placed on working men and women in South Africa.
Blessings
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Thursday, 14 June 2012
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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©
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These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and
copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided
it is for non-commercial Christian purposes
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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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Mary
and Martha
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In January 1974, I
returned to South Africa with my family. Altogether I’d been out of the
country for fourteen years. Getting into RSA in those days was rather
complicated. The application forms were horrendous. Apartheid was in full
swing and the authorities wanted to make absolutely sure that I wasn’t
bringing undesirable elements here. Of course, in those days, anything
Non-European was undesirable. South Africa had left the Commonwealth and many
of the laws were draconian. They wanted to know everything about everything.
Presumably all this was examined by the security people. It took about six
months to process. Then we got the green light to travel from Heathrow to Jan
Smuts airport, as it was called in those days. The plane landed at Nairobi
and most of the passengers were allowed to stretch their legs in the transit
lounge. Those who had South African passports were not allowed to get off the
aeroplane. So my first view of Africa at ground level was of Kenya, through
the aeroplane windows.
The South Africa I had left
and the one I returned to was different. Although apartheid was well and
truly entrenched, the flavour of society, as a whole, appeared more
prosperous than in the 1950’s. The Rand was very strong. The exchange rate
was R1.8 to the £. Twenty years later it was nearer R10 to the £. The pace of
things was much slower than it is today. I was taken on by what was called
the Electricity Supply Commission; abbreviated ESC. The comment was that it
represented Easy, Slow and Comfortable.
Certainly the pace was
much slower than today. My working hours, were from 08h00 to 17h00. There was
no question of working after hours, unless it was for a specific task. This
meant that there was time in the evenings for family life.
This changed rapidly as
sanctions began to bite into the life of working men and women. By the middle
of the 1980’s, a twelve hour working day had become normal. Today people are
under such pressure, that there is hardly any time for family life. I’m
reminded of a “hit song” of the 1950’s called “16 Tons”. Each verse included
the phrase, “I owe my soul to the company store”.
It seems as though there
is no longer any choice. When Jesus visited the home of Martha, Mary and
Lazarus, Mary had time to sit down and listen to Jesus as He taught the
people. Today all three have become so busy working for the “Company Store”
that there is no time to spare. I suppose if Jesus visited any South African home
today, He would be hard pressed to find anyone there at all. He may well
rebuke us for not finding time for Him or His ecclesia. But if we don’t work
the sort of hours industry demands today, we will be dismissed and the job given
to someone willing to put up with the hours and conditions. In South Africa
with unemployment being a major problem, few people are willing to take the
risk of being put out of work.
There are also many deeply committed Christians in
our country. People who want to have a close personal relationship with Jesus
Christ. In view of this we need to revisit our concept of what we see as
“Church”. We have to make time to sit at His feet in a way that is
meaningful. The early church managed it at a time when the great majority of
the Christians were impoverished slaves. We haven’t quite got there yet. But
we all need to take a close look at our priorities and find a way whereby
every aspect of life can reflect the greatness of Jesus.
Jim
& Phyllida Strickland
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41 The
Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha! You worry
and fuss about a lot of things. 42 There's only one thing
you need. Mary has made the right choice, and that one thing will not be
taken away from her."
Luke 10:41-42 GW
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"Think about the ravens. They don't plant or
gather crops. They don't have any storerooms at all. But God feeds
them. You are worth much more than birds!
Luke 12:24 NIrV
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"Think about how the lilies grow. They don't
work or make clothing. But here is what I tell you. Not even Solomon
in all of his glory was dressed like one of those flowers.
Luke 12:27 NIrV
29
"Don't spend time thinking about what you will
eat or drink. Don't worry about it. 30 People who are
ungodly run after all of those things. Your Father
knows that you need them.
Luke 12:29-30 NIrV
8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.
9 But people who long to be rich fall into
temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge
them into ruin and destruction. 10 For
the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving
money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
1 Timothy 6:8-10 NLT
19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the
worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so
no fruit is produced.
Mark 4:19 NLT
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of
witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us
down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with
endurance the race God has set before us.
Hebrews 12:1 NLT
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Tom, Dick and Harry, Felicity and Joan.
“We are always tired”,
is their collective moan.
“They seem to be so busy; they’re
running round all day.
They never seem to have the time, to meditate
or pray.
“I’ll do it when I’m finished. There’s
still so much to do.
It would be very helpful to share the
work with you.
I’ve got to spread the table and
position all the knives.
The guests are so important. Perhaps
they’ll bring their wives?
These curtains must be taken down,
then quickly washed and dried.
I hear they like potatoes; whole or
mashed or fried?
I’d better telephone them. But what
about the tea?
The water’s nearly boiling. Please see
to it for me.
The towels in the bathroom; the sheets
upon the bed;
The paper for the toilet; They have to
be well fed;
The napkins for the table; This cloth
is getting old;
What about the cutlery? The silver or
the gold?
What about the seating? There could be
ten or more.
Should I put the coat rack, right next
to the front door?
What if it is raining and everything
gets wet?
What about the airport? My brother may
forget.
It may be he is rather late. Perhaps a
traffic jam?”
My daughter, pause and listen, your
every need, I AM!
Does it really matter if it’s wet or
if it’s dry?
If there is an error, you do not have
to cry.
Look at your priorities. I think
you’ve got them wrong.
If you run around like this, you’ll
hasten death along.
Change your way of thinking. Look at
the birds that fly.
You know My Father feeds them; on that
they all rely.
Now think about the lilies that grow out
in the field.
They’re better dressed than anything a
“fashion mag” might yield.
And as for food and clothing. There’s
always been enough.
I challenge you to look around and
call the devil’s bluff.
You don’t need pots of money. Man’s
wealth can be a snare.
I want you free from worry. Don’t
think I do not care!
Don’t let your frantic actions kill
you while you’re young.
There’s so much more in front of you;
So much still to be done.
Slacken off a little and strip off
every weight.
The witnesses are watching. Walk with
me through your gate.
Jim Strickland – Written 14th
June 2012.
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