Stop in the Name of Love

I’m not a morning person. So, as you can imagine, my body doesn't adapt well to Daylight Savings Time. I found myself in Sunday School yesterday having not quite known how I got there. At least I was dressed in matching clothes. Several folks asked me what was wrong in a bubbly "morning person" voice. And I managed not to smack them. Oh, that doesn't sound very Christian does it?

Anyway, as I tried to come into the realm of the living, I paused to reflect. People were buzzing around me with the usual meet and greet catching up with each other about what happened the last week.  I just sat there to wait for Sunday School to start. Just sitting is usually not my style just as pausing is not my practice.

   

In those moments I realized that I need to halt more often. I need to stop the buzzing around and get a little alone time with God. Life seems to crowd things and lump the happenings of the day together. Yes, I pray and have my daily devotions and Bible time. But do I really stop? Or is this just a scheduled event of my day? If God wants more time with me than I have scheduled would I stop everything and give it to Him?

Luke 10: 38-42 Now as they were traveling along, He (Jesus) entered a village; and a woman named (1) Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But (2) Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then (3) tell her to help me." But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;(4) but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

(1)Martha welcomed Jesus into her home. She began to take personal responsibility for His well being and the guests He brought along with Him. That sounds like a good thing, right?

(2)Then, all the things she knew she ought to do to entertain the guests and her Lord put her in the place of distraction. She was missing what was going on because she wanted desperately to be the "hostess with the mostest."  She wanted to give her Lord everything He deserved. Wasn't that what He expected? Wasn't that what a good little follower of Christ would do?

(3)Martha knew she could get more things done for God if she could get her sister to help. So she asked Jesus to give permission for Mary to leave and help. Martha was " gettin er done" while Mary was just sitting around. Sounds like a great idea from Martha doesn't it?

(4)But Jesus reminded Martha that sometimes just getting the quiet time with Him done and checking it off the daily list of things to do is not good. Sometimes we must stop, pause, halt, and shut out everything and just listen. Listen to the voice of God in our hearts. Listen to Him telling us He loves us. Listen to Him showing us His mercy and grace. Just stop because we love Him.

There in Sunday School, before Sunday School really started and before I really got into the day, I stopped. Oh, it wasn't and earth shattering great revelation from God. But it was a moment, a necessary time.

Maybe we should have Daylight Savings Time more than once a year.

Nahhhh.

But I can stop more often and just sit and listen for God’s voice in my heart.

I can stop in the name of love.