Daily Devotional: Thursday, Sept 17

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Negativity

Weekend Music links on iTunes:  Glorious One by Marcus Jones; Hosanna by Paul Baloche; From the Inside Out by Hillsong United; The Stand by Hillsong United. 

Read: Luke 10:38-42; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2; Ephesians 2:4-9; Luke 11:29-30

Think: Seriously, tonight I did it. After writing about the consequences of being negative for the better part of this week, I asked my wife a scary question with the probability of an even scarier answer; "what does it feels like for you when I am negative?"   Her answer surprised me, truly surprised me.  You see I expected her to say how it makes her feel hopeless, how it brings her down, and in fact all of those are probably true, but here is what she said:

"Well for instance tonight ,when you came home."

"Huh." I said (Ok that's a topic for another conversation and devotional on the intricacies and complexities of male communication).

"Well you came home and told me about how busy you are at work, and how you have devotional's to write, and classes to attend, and receptions to host, and all I can think about is that you are the one who signed up for all of this".

"So how is that negative?" I asked innocently (maybe a more accurate adverb would be "I asked ignorantly").

"You are whining, and that's negative to me".

Ouch.  Fastball right on the outside corner for a called strike three!  I didn't see that coming, and it was back to the dugout for some reflection time.

We talked for awhile and we concluded that when I am like this, which clearly is more often than I am obviously aware of, I am the male equivalent of Martha.  We even came up with a new moniker for me, but I won't reveal that here. You might remember her from the sermon this weekend. Martha was the one busy with preparations she was making to host Jesus while her sister Mary devoted herself to Jesus himself.  Martha clearly exasperated, wanted Jesus to ask Mary to help her. But Jesus admonished Martha, telling her that she worries too much about too many things, and that there is just one thing, just one thing that is needed, and her sister Mary had that one thing.  (Luke 10:38-42).

We search to please others and God instructs us to please Him (1 Thessalonians 4:1-2), we strive to perform but we know it is by grace we are saved (Ephesians 2:4-9), we look for signs from the Lord (Luke 11:29-30), but God in His ultimate wisdom, and His desire to know us makes it so clear:

"⁵Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

 ⁶Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:5-6.

It applies when we first come to know Jesus, and it applies in our daily walk with Him as Christ followers.  He Is The Way.

Thank you to my wife, who quietly and patiently revealed the nature and consequences of my negativity tonight.

Do: Examine your life. Take an inventory of the things you do. Are you too busy and have no time for the Lord?  Do you sign up for too much stuff? If you could do just one thing, what would that be?

Pray: Heavenly Father. I praise you and thank you for your instruction, your wisdom, and your grace. I seek you first to show me the way.  Examine my life, instruct me on what is important to you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Timberlake Church | 4505 236th Ave. NE • Redmond, Washington 98053 • 425-869-4400 • info@tlcf.org