Quality Time

We were talking about prayer time and spending time in the Word, and Pastor said something like, it is not the quanity of time you spend in the Word but the quality of time.

This reminded me of the story of Mary and Martha. When Jesus came to visit, Martha was running around trying to do her best with her works to take care of Jesus. Mary on the other hand sat at Jesus feet with her full attention on Jesus and what He had to say.

First of all Jesus doesn't need us to take care of Him. He is there to take our cares. Second, Jesus is the Word. Martha had no time in her busy schedule to listen to the Word. She thought she was doing what was right by working to supply a good meal when in fact, all she needed to do to receive a good meal was to feast on the Word as Mary was doing.

Jesus gently rebuked Martha and told her when she complained about Mary not helping, that Mary was doing right. That what Mary was receiving would not be taken away from her.

Any praise and thanks that Martha might have received for a good meal would soon be forgotten probably, even before the next meal was served. She may have felt worth and others' gratitude for serving them, but that would be temporal and what Mary was receiving from the Word (Jesus) would be eternal.

Luke 10 v 38-42.....Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, tell her to help me." And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.".....

Mary was focused on the Word. Martha was focused on works. We can sometimes become so focused on the work to be done, and think that we are the only ones that can do it, that we miss out on the teaching of the Word. Sometimes in Ministry, the workers do the same. If you have a nursery worker who is working every service, then they are not being fed the Word. Be careful that your church does not allow all Marthas, and no Marys, that they do not have time to be fed themselves. There has to be a balance as all the parts of the Body must be fed.

If you are a Martha never being fed, then you will never be able to grow in the Word. You will become like stagnant water never changing, unteachable, never moving. Stagnant water is full of bacteria, that causes diseases that can lead to death.

Just as our bodies need water daily to survive, we also need to be fed the Word to survive. We need fresh water. We need a fresh Word. What I mean by a fresh Word, is that if we do not receive a new and fresh Word, we will try to survive on what we have heard sometime before. That particular Word may not be a Word in season for us today. Or let me say it like this, you may not pay any attention to it when you hear it, because you think, "oh I have heard that before".

Pastor also said this, that we should read just what we are able to meditate on. That really helped me, because I know personally I sometimes try to knock out a chapter just so I finish whatever my bible reading through was for the day. When in all reality, I did not receive anything because I did not meditate on what I had read. The Word tells us to meditate on His word, to keep them before our eyes.

Prov 4 v 20-22....My son, give attention to My words; incline your ear to My sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.....

PS 119 v 105....Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path....

Both these scriptures tell us how important the Word is to us. They are health for us, and they are light for us. When we are faced with challenges we can recall the Word in our hearts that we have meditated on and know that there will be a light to show us the path to take to bring us through our challenge. If we do not meditate on His word, and build our faith on that Word, we can find ourselves wandering in a wilderness trying to find the way out.

Spend quality time with the Lord each day in His Word. Don't always be a Martha, take some time to be a Mary and receive that good part that will not be taken away.

STAY IN THE WORD!