Scriptural Meditation by Liz Babbs
Busy or Listening? – Mary and Martha.
I wonder what you’re reaction would be if Jesus came to visit you at home? Music
Imagine Jesus knocking on your door now. What would be your immediate reaction? Would you rush round clearing up? Or would you invite him in immediately? Which part of the house would you show him into? What would your first words to him be? Would you make him a drink, or cook him a meal, or just sit and chat? Pause.
Now as I read you the story of Mary and Martha, imagine yourself stepping inside their house just as Jesus did.
At the Home of Martha and Mary
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 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!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
As you reflect on this scripture read from another translation, I’d like you to imagine that you are Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus, enjoying his company. Visualise yourself sitting next to him now. What are you sitting on, or are you kneeling. Where is Jesus sitting? Is He sitting on your right or left? What is He wearing? What is He saying to you? Is there anything you would like to ask Him? Is there anything you would like to say to Martha? How does your time with Jesus end?
Mary and Martha
38-40 As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. "Master, don't you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand."
41-42 The Master said, "Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it— and it won't be taken from her."
Prodigal – Coming back to God (No Music)
I love this story of the prodigal son. The Prodigal son has a message for all of us because we are all prodigals. Life is a series of returns to God, because we so easily go off track, like the sheep that goes astray. We tend to want to go are own way. And when we do we ignore God and demote him to second place. This can happen so easily through our work, busyness, personal problems, distractions, temptations and relationships. So many things including consumerism demand our attention and prevent us from fully worshiping God. And so we need to keep coming back to God, just like the prodigal son, to make Him our number one priority again. But the great news is that each time we return to God we are offered the most amazing and extravagant welcome home, as our loving Father rushes out to meet us.
Music – So you might like to reflect now on those things in your life that demote God to second place, or those things that you are placing your identity in, rather than in God, asking for his forgiveness…………………………Pause.
And now as I read you the last part of the Prodigal son, you might like to use it as a form of personal prayer, acknowledging God as your number one priority.
That while he was still a long way off, His father saw him and was filled with compassion for him. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, “Father I have sinned against heaven and against you, I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.” And the Father said to his servants, “Quick, bring the best robe and put it on him, put a ring on his finger and sandles on his feet, bring the fattened calf and kill it, let’s have a feast and celebrate, for this son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found. So they began to celebrate.”
Song -
Keeping Short Account music
The people who hurt us the most are often those closest to us. But a lack of forgiveness can be a real stumbling block, affecting our future friendships as well as our relationship with God. Forgiveness is a decision, we can choose to forgive or not. But if we do we offer both ourselves and our adversaries a bridge that can set both parties free. For Jesus warns us, that if we don’t forgive others, we will not be forgiven. Pause
So allow God now to bring to your mind, those people you need to forgive.
You might like to think about a relationship that is a problem for you at the moment.
Now visualise a bridge and see yourself about to cross the bridge. Jesus is standing alongside you and he says “are you ready to walk across now?”
What is your reply?
As you walk across ask Jesus to show you how much he loves that other person, and try to view this person through Jesus’ eyes, As Jesus walks ahead of you across the bridge to prepare the way.
Pause
Now visualise both parties crossing the bridge and meeting in the middle with Jesus standing between you. .. Is there anything you want to say or do?....
And how does the meeting end?
And Jesus says for if you forgive others when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you………
Sacred Place
In order to find the pathway that leads to intimacy with God. We need to discover the gift of silence.
For it is in the silence of the heart that God speaks. In the silence we learn how to shed the baggage that so easily clutters our lives, and the noise that can be like spiritual pollution. So let’s spend a minute now just enjoying the silence. You might like to close your eyes. Don’t worry if thoughts or distractions pop into your mind. That’s quite normal. Simply visualise yourself placing them to one side like a pile of papers on a desk. Simply tune in to the stillness and peace.
2 mins of silence.
And the angel of the Lord said to Moses “take off your sandals for the place where you are standing is Holy Ground.”
Song – Holy Ground.
Immersed in God’s Presence
The apostle Paul said that his determined purpose was to know God, and to know God intimately. And that’s our purpose to. To know and love the Lord our God with all our hearts… God’s invitation is for us to go deeper into Him. So allow yourself now to bathe in the ocean of His love.
I wonder what you’re reaction would be if Jesus came to visit you at home? Music
Imagine Jesus knocking on your door now. What would be your immediate reaction? Would you rush round clearing up? Or would you invite him in immediately? Which part of the house would you show him into? What would your first words to him be? Would you make him a drink, or cook him a meal, or just sit and chat? Pause.
Now as I read you the story of Mary and Martha, imagine yourself stepping inside their house just as Jesus did.
At the Home of Martha and Mary
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 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!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
As you reflect on this scripture read from another translation, I’d like you to imagine that you are Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus, enjoying his company. Visualise yourself sitting next to him now. What are you sitting on, or are you kneeling. Where is Jesus sitting? Is He sitting on your right or left? What is He wearing? What is He saying to you? Is there anything you would like to ask Him? Is there anything you would like to say to Martha? How does your time with Jesus end?
Mary and Martha
38-40 As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. "Master, don't you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand."
41-42 The Master said, "Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it— and it won't be taken from her."
Prodigal – Coming back to God (No Music)
I love this story of the prodigal son. The Prodigal son has a message for all of us because we are all prodigals. Life is a series of returns to God, because we so easily go off track, like the sheep that goes astray. We tend to want to go are own way. And when we do we ignore God and demote him to second place. This can happen so easily through our work, busyness, personal problems, distractions, temptations and relationships. So many things including consumerism demand our attention and prevent us from fully worshiping God. And so we need to keep coming back to God, just like the prodigal son, to make Him our number one priority again. But the great news is that each time we return to God we are offered the most amazing and extravagant welcome home, as our loving Father rushes out to meet us.
Music – So you might like to reflect now on those things in your life that demote God to second place, or those things that you are placing your identity in, rather than in God, asking for his forgiveness…………………………Pause.
And now as I read you the last part of the Prodigal son, you might like to use it as a form of personal prayer, acknowledging God as your number one priority.
That while he was still a long way off, His father saw him and was filled with compassion for him. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, “Father I have sinned against heaven and against you, I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.” And the Father said to his servants, “Quick, bring the best robe and put it on him, put a ring on his finger and sandles on his feet, bring the fattened calf and kill it, let’s have a feast and celebrate, for this son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found. So they began to celebrate.”
Song -
Keeping Short Account music
The people who hurt us the most are often those closest to us. But a lack of forgiveness can be a real stumbling block, affecting our future friendships as well as our relationship with God. Forgiveness is a decision, we can choose to forgive or not. But if we do we offer both ourselves and our adversaries a bridge that can set both parties free. For Jesus warns us, that if we don’t forgive others, we will not be forgiven. Pause
So allow God now to bring to your mind, those people you need to forgive.
You might like to think about a relationship that is a problem for you at the moment.
Now visualise a bridge and see yourself about to cross the bridge. Jesus is standing alongside you and he says “are you ready to walk across now?”
What is your reply?
As you walk across ask Jesus to show you how much he loves that other person, and try to view this person through Jesus’ eyes, As Jesus walks ahead of you across the bridge to prepare the way.
Pause
Now visualise both parties crossing the bridge and meeting in the middle with Jesus standing between you. .. Is there anything you want to say or do?....
And how does the meeting end?
And Jesus says for if you forgive others when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you………
Sacred Place
In order to find the pathway that leads to intimacy with God. We need to discover the gift of silence.
For it is in the silence of the heart that God speaks. In the silence we learn how to shed the baggage that so easily clutters our lives, and the noise that can be like spiritual pollution. So let’s spend a minute now just enjoying the silence. You might like to close your eyes. Don’t worry if thoughts or distractions pop into your mind. That’s quite normal. Simply visualise yourself placing them to one side like a pile of papers on a desk. Simply tune in to the stillness and peace.
2 mins of silence.
And the angel of the Lord said to Moses “take off your sandals for the place where you are standing is Holy Ground.”
Song – Holy Ground.
Immersed in God’s Presence
The apostle Paul said that his determined purpose was to know God, and to know God intimately. And that’s our purpose to. To know and love the Lord our God with all our hearts… God’s invitation is for us to go deeper into Him. So allow yourself now to bathe in the ocean of His love.