Devotionals

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“Pastor Rick? Can I have the title of your sermon for this Sunday?”

“I am not sure, just yet, what it will be.”

“But Pastor Rick, today is Thursday. I have to finish the bulletins. I can’t wait any longer.”

“Okay. You are right. I am sorry. Umm, let’s see. How about: “Martha: A Pathway to Ruin.”

“Martha? Martha who? Martha Treadwell? What did she do now?”

“No not Martha Treadwell. Martha, in the Bible. You know Martha and Mary?”

“What did she do that was so wrong? I thought she was one of Jesus’ best friends.”

“She was but don’t you remember how she was too busy trying to get things ready that she didn’t have time to listen to what Jesus was saying?” The blank look on Lisa’s face indicated that she felt the title needed work. “Let’s just go with this title. I will work it out in the message. It will be ok.”

“Is that with or without a question mark?”

“Question mark? There’s no question mark.”

“If you say so.” Unconvinced Lisa scurried off with her tidbit of information and Rick returned to the stack of papers on his desk.

He had come into the office early to try and catch up on his mail which was overflowing its box. This was the third day of the week that he had skipped his morning devotional reading in order to get an early start on the day. Even with getting to work early he was slipping farther behind. Sermon preparation had slipped to the bottom of the list. If this trend continued he would soon find himself writing notes for the sermon during the choir’s anthem.

“Why doesn’t the Bishop recognize that this church is too big for just one pastor?” The old and rehearsed diatribes quickly formed once again in Rick’s mind. “Doesn’t he know how hard I am working?”

“Excuse me, Pastor. Do you have a moment?”

Rick turned to see the chair of the finance team sticking his head through the office door. The reality of pressing needs quickly pushed aside the fleeting idea of a quiet morning in the office.

Two nights later…

“Where have you been all day? I didn’t know if I should make you dinner or call and report a missing person.”

“I’m sorry, honey,” Rick sighed as he slumped into the first chair he could find. “Boy! What a day!”

“I thought you were just going to the Men’s prayer breakfast and then come right back home. Isn’t that what you said today’s plan was to be? What happened? Do you know that it is nearly 11:00?”

“I know. I’m sorry. Things just kept coming up. Pete wanted to talk and then the contractor finally showed up so we had to look at his plans for the renovation project.” Rick paused, struggling to remember the events of the day.

“This was Saturday. You are supposed to be taking Saturdays off. Do you remember what we planned to do today?”

Rick knew his wife was angry. She usually would never say anything about the time he spent at the church. She had realistically accepted that being a pastor for a church required long and inconsistent hours. He must have forgotten something very important. From his dazed look she knew he was lost.

“How could you forget your only son’s birthday?”

“I didn’t forget. You should have reminded me.”

“Good grief! I did remind you. I told you three times a day for the last week. It was the last thing I said to you this morning. YOU HAVE NOT BEEN LISTENING! Do you hear anything I say? Do you hear anything anyone is trying to tell you? You are working too hard.” With that she stormed out of the room and the closing bedroom door shook the foundation of the home.

Rick closed his eyes and took a deep breath. In the returning stillness that pulsated from the slamming door, Rick took refuge. A quiet that he had not felt in weeks slowly descended upon him and he began to remember the peace and comfort of its gentle shroud.

“Okay, God. I get it. I am ready to listen now. What would you have me do?” After a long immersion into the peacefulness of the night and the quiet of God’s embrace, Rick had to pull himself from the edges of slumber and move to his desk to work on the unfinished sermon.

“Now, what was that sermon title?”

Closing Prayer:

Gracious Lord. Break through the busyness of our days in ways that we will always be focused on you. Help us hear your voice in everything we do so that we can be grounded in your Spirit and filled with your love. Through Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

Inspired by Luke 10:38-42

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