I recently got a taste of a real honest-to-God, "life changing" experience. All of my life I've gone to church and was brought up in a Christian home by a loving, Christian family on all sides. I was raised a Methodist but was exposed to many different denominations along the way. I guess that's how I ended up claiming "non-denominational" as adult. I went to Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, attended Music Camp, grew up in the Youth Group, sang in the Chancel Choir. I've been to retreats, conferences, pilgrimages. I've served in most every capacity from nursery keeper to Deacon. But guess what I'm doing now... nothing.
Well some would put it that way. In actuality, what I've done is changed from being a "Martha" to being a "Mary". Read Luke 10:38 - 42 for the story.
I was Martha for many years, and the worst part is, I totally knew it. I always did whatever needed to be done to prepare for Jesus, to prepare for others to worship and learn, to do all the administrative tasks, all the coordination and organization (I'm not saying I did it alone, I'm saying that was my main focus). It took God using what seemed like a stumbling block in my way to make me stop the madness and put HIM first.
Now I am free. I have released myself from all the serving and have been released by others. Now I can be a Mary. Mary who chose instead to sit and just take in what Jesus had to say. She knew there was food to be prepared, but she didn't worry about it. She didn't try to figure out how to publicize that Jesus was in her house. Mary knew that there were cobwebs in the corners and dust on the piano, but she didn't care! All she was concerned about was sitting at the feet of her Lord and taking in all He had to say.
That's my "life changing" experience. Not some great sermon or intellectually stimulating book or even a perfectly separated brownie. My life changing experience was God using a not-so-great experience to change me from a Martha to a Mary. I hope I never go back.
