Mary and Martha

John 11:1-45  We read the account of Lazarus death.

 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.. Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that,

he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

Notice in verse 3...both Mary and Martha called him LORD. The SON OF GOD esteemed...his NAME above ALL names....LORD.

When addressing him...ONLY this name was befitting...To seek the help of the only one who could...

CASTING ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM FOR HE CARETH FOR YOU. I Peter 5:7

Jesus the incarnate WORD...spoke to them...

this sickness not unto death...

Is he truly LORD of your life...if he speaks these words of comfort to you..as in I Peter 5:7?

Do you believe him...HIS WORD?

God's purpose in our lives as Believers...is to GLORIFY HIS NAME...

How patient are we in letting GOD do the work...letting HIS TIME...and HIS desires come to pass.

I recall a time in my younger days of my Christian walk...My eldest son (now 32)..at six months of age became very ill with a high fever. ( a young Mother at that...and heavy of heart) He had to be admitted to the hospital for an overnight watch. I still can picture how pitiful he looked in the crib with an oxygen tent over him...as I sat and looked..thinking..praying...pleading for God's help. His care for me and my child...HOW LORD?

As I read my Bible and waited...another patient behind the curtain next to us was talking to her doctor. She feared so the task of having to give herself injections for diabetes...the doctor was no comfort at all...very business and  a matter of fact so.  After he left, I peeked around the curtain and asked if I could chat with her for a moment..BIBLE in hand. A sweet elderly lady...I began to witness to her of God's Grace and my own current situation there ....I left her my Bible to read. The next morning...my son was well! The fever gone..no test necessary, after all!  We could go home!  But, not before a young gentleman stopped me in the room and asked if I was the one who had spoken to his mother?
Yes. THANK YOU...she has such peace now.She read your Bible all night. Here..it is. Thank you for helping her.

..THAT THE SON OF GOD ..MIGHT BE GLORIFIED!!

God's purpose...

Have you allowed GOD to work in your life..moment by moment...waiting patiently? Looking for those opportunities that come your way to GLORIFY HIS NAME. THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT!

II Corinthians 1:3  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort..

Notice John 11:5 Now, Jesus loved, Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

He mentions MARTHA first..of all people!  YES...as in our previous study..so many have taken her name for blame!  Jesus LOVED her just as much as the others! He NAMES her first here.

As we read on...we find Jesus is exhorting his own disciples to trust him. Reminding them in verse 10

But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

verse 14...Then said, Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

Jesus was glad that he was not there...to manifest HIS TIME..HIS PURPOSE.

When Martha heard that Jesus had come...she quickly met him. Mary stayed at the house.

WAIT...I thought Martha was cumbered about the HOUSE and careful about many things!
Not now..

Even though she says Lord if thou hast been here, my brother had not died...knowing even if he just SPOKE it is done..

She also says..BUT I KNOW...verse 22 God will give it thee.

Jesus said unto her, They brother shall rise again. verse 23

Verse 27 she confirms her belief with

She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou are the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Martha leaves to get Mary....she says  THE MASTER IS COME..as soon as Mary hears this..she too rises quickly and goes to him.

Verse 32..MARY now has her doubts..LORD IF THOU.....mmm? just like Martha.

We should be careful not to Categorize people.

I did a Bible Study recently (will post on blog soon) of us all being Diamonds in the rough!!

God is working continually in the hearts of believers..we can't expect a new convert to be seasoned with the faith that trials bring to strengthen us..or verses of scripture learned over time.

Have you ever considered..how Jesus feels when you don't BELIEVE HIS WORD?

Imagine as he patiently..teaches them HIS WAYS..about trusting him and believing.

Let the example of Mary and Martha of Bethany be an exhortation to wait patiently on the LORD.

Set your priorities upon HIM. No Martha excuses anymore!!! 

Seek HIM as LORD and Master of your life.   WATCH  as he brings to pass HIS WORD.

I Corinthians 2:9   But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

..he LOVED Martha, and her sister and Lazarus.

I John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

I pray this study is a blessing to you and a help.

HOPE





....

Please forgive me for the delay in posting this series update.

 I haven't been feeling well. I appreciate your patience and HOPE that you will join me for the continued study of Mary and Martha to be posted next week.

God bless and thank you for coming by!

HOPE

Women of the Bible Series

MARY and MARTHA of BETHANY

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat a Jesus feet, and heard his word.
But Martha was cumbered about much serving and came to him, and said,
Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
And Jesus answered and said unto her,
Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things.
But one thing is needful and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken  away from her.       LUKE 10: 38-42

In my study here I want to reflect on an important need.

And...to refocus poor Martha who has taken the brunt of excuses for who knows how long ...on WHY women shouldn't be caught up in serving or housework!

LETS TAKE A DIFFERENT LOOK

The context here is a time of SPIRITUAL learning.

A NEEDFUL time of instruction from the Son of God...JESUS.  A TIME to HEAR...and LISTEN to God's word.

John 1:1 says...
In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was with God and the WORD was GOD.

John 1:14/17 And the WORD was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him,  I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.

At Martha's house she received JESUS into their presence...to SPEAK.

John 10:39.....which heard his word.

Martha's FAULT at this time....was her NEGLECT to STOP!! and listen to that which was most needful..HEARING THE WORDS OF GOD...which cannot be taken away!!

When we have trusted the LORD Jesus as our Saviour...Born Again by the Spirit of God...the WORD becomes alive and lives within us.

Psalm 119 is full of verses that MAGNIFY the WORD OF GOD and it's affect upon our lives.

TODAY...Preaching and Teaching of the WORD OF GOD is NEEDFUL..a TIME to STOP and LISTEN.

SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS....any time the WORD OF GOD is opened...read or preached.


Note: that Martha had also at previous times...sat at Jesus feet... verse 39 says of Mary that she also sat at Jesus feet..meaning that Martha had many times as well! It was not every time she was full of care in her serving. But this time..she neglected to STOP and remember that her most needful time...was to listen to Jesus speak.

DO YOU??  Miss Sunday School because you are busy (full of care) about how you look? or the kids need this and that?  Dinner for company after church must be prepared...HAVE YOU missed the MAIN SERVICE to SERVE? perhaps for company coming....or a dinner AT CHURCH and you feel you MUST be there to set up and have it all ready...

WILL you also....be cumbered about with much serving...and MISS that most needful time that cannot be taken away! 

The important Biblical lesson of the day? COULD YOU possibly MISS the very Scripture that would help that prayer need you have? or that ENCOURAGING word you have so longed for?

MAYBE..YOU GO TO THE NURSERY too much!  TRUST the nursery workers...they will come to you if they need you in there...TOOO!  Or maybe you just like to FELLOWSHIP in he nursery.

WHY DO YOU GO TO CHURCH?  it should be to SIT AT JESUS FEET! and HEAR HIS WORDS.

Now lets see...what about?  SERVING

Titus 2:1-5  But speak thou the things that become sound doctrine.
That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things.
That hey may teach the younger women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home......

Proverbs 31:27  She looketh well to the ways of her household....

verse 20.she stretcheth forth her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth to the needy.

There is a TIME for serving...and a TIME for sitting at the feet of Jesus.

A Spiritual time of opportunity....

Sunday School,  Worship Services..Revival Meetings..Special Bible Speakers...Bible Study times with Christians (Ladies Bible Study-ours the first Tues of each month) Would YOU be there?

How about HOME DEVOTIONS?

Does DAD do the DEVOTION with the kids...WHILE..you do the dishes...etc.

STOP...and sit at Jesus Feet!!  Taken in that which cannot be taken away..let it grow and strengthen you...

Don't let this be an excuse to be a keeper at home....

Set PRIORITIES...make a conscious effort to be on time at church...plan a meal for company in a crock pot...do so you won't neglect that NEEDFUL thing...

We are to be hospitable and serve...we are to use our time wisely for the testimony of  God's Word.

John 12:1-2  Mary and Martha


Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.


There they made him a supper; and Martha served:....

Note is says..THEY... Mary and Martha made him SUPPER. 

A determined time of EATING...

Martha served....

Many times as with the first scenario of Martha...we too get caught up in the moment...wanting to get everyone served and troubled that one might be missed...or we need those napkins....or perhaps AFTER the meal...we feel the kitchen needs cleaning right then...and that is GOOD and WELL...but not if you have a certain time that is set aside for THE WORD OF GOD....stop and do the dishes later...but do them and be a keeper at home...at the RIGHT TIMES.

God Bless ...
HOPE

WOMEN OF THE BIBLE SERIES part one

The First Week of each month.

The Women of the Bible series first post will be this evening. I apologize for the delays.

I hope to post on this series once a month..usually the first week of the month. I hope you will join me and in between some devotions and testimonies..

I will be sharing next week a TESTIMONIAL...on God's care of what may seem small matters to others...BIG TO US..and just as CARING FROM A LOVING FATHER...

His LOVE is so SPECIAL...such a tender heart...yet such a POWERFUL and GREAT GOD..his works are past finding out..a hint of them in our  own lives touched by his GRACES...

may I add....CONTINUALLY...

Please come REJOICE with me..

HOPE