“On their
way YESHUA and His talmidim (disciples) came to a village where a woman named
Marta welcomed them into her home. She had a sister named Miryam who also sat
at the LORD’s feet and heard what He had to say. But, Marta was busy with all
the work to be done; so, she said, ‘Sir, don’t You care that my sister has been
leaving me to do all the work by myself?’ However, the LORD answered her,
‘Marta, Marta, you are fretting and worrying about so many things! But, there
is only one thing that is essential. Miryam has chosen the right thing, and it
won’t be taken away from her.’” CJB
I have read
this passage, only the LORD knows how many times, and I have heard it taught on
several times. But, this morning as I was reading the SPIRIT (The Holy SPIRIT)
impressed me that it was really about the Word of GOD before the Works of His
Kingdom! There has been much debate about works verses faith throughout the
ages and it began with the Law and continued in the epistles.
The answer
is that if we know (truly understand and believe) the Word of GOD then we will
truly know and understand that works and faith go hand in hand. You cannot have
the one and not do the other if you are in a personal salvation based
relationship with the True and Living GOD!
The problem
with many Christians and that included myself for most of my 45 years as a
Christian is that we are about form over substance or works to prove our faith.
Works do not prove faith and the claim of faith does not validate works. Both
faith and works can be religious rather than relational; they can be all about
appearance rather than obedience. Study Matthew 7:21-29, 15:7-9.
Throughout
the Old and New Testaments obedience over works (sacrifice) is emphasized as
the correct relationship between humanity and GOD. This relationship cannot be
achieved without a thorough knowledge and understanding of GOD and self.
Abraham was called the friend of GOD, 2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23.
Moses was called the Servant of the LORD and was faithful in GOD’s call Deuteronomy
34:5-7; Hebrews 3:2. David was called a man after GOD’s heart 1 Samuel 13:14,
15:28; Acts 7:44-46, 13:22.
To know and
understand ourself we have to be honest with ourself and not compare ourself
with anyone else; to do this we have to know GOD and His plan for us. So, we
have to first know and understand who GOD is and His plan for creation and
humanity. The only way we can know and understand GOD is by reading, studying
and meditating on His Word, The Bible. The Bible is GOD’s revelation to
humanity of who He is and His plan for creation and humanity and it is the only
way we will get to know Him. GOD’s SPIRIT moves throughout the earth and pours
our His blessings, grace and good gifts on every human being. The Bible tells
us that GOD causes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust and the sun to
shine on the good and the bad, it also tells us that all good gifts come from
Him, and He uses people to do that, even if they do not know that GOD is using
them. Study Jeremiah 9:23-24; Matthew 5:43-45; 2 Corinthians 11:29-30; James
1:12-18.
So, by His
Word and His SPIRIT we can know and understand GOD and His purpose (will) for
us as individuals and as a whole (humanity). In the prayer that JESUS taught
His disciples and us to pray, the Our Father or LORD’s Prayer, in Matthew
6:9-11 He tells us to first honor GOD and ask for His Kingdom and Will to be
done in the earth as it is in Heaven. How is His Kingdom and Will to be done in
the earth as it is in Heaven? By His Children, those who know and understand
who GOD is and what He wants us to do. And, how do we know and understand GOD?
By His SPIRIT and Word! This does take time, but we can start immediately with
what we know and as we grow and mature GOD’s SPIRIT will give us greater
understanding and a deeper relationship. Study Matthew 6:9-13; John 1:12-14;
Philippians 2:5-15, 3, 4:8-9; Colossians; Revelation 12:10-12.
Here is the
tricky part; GOD’s gift and calling for each of us cannot be taken away, but
they can be used by those who do not personally know and serve GOD through
JESUS CHRIST. While this leads to religious works it does not lead to salvation.
Salvation is a free gift from GOD to those who receive it and then seek Him and
His Righteousness above everything else.
Study
Matthew 6:24-34, 7:21-23; John 3:1-21 and Romans 11 & 12.
“My son,
give attention to My Words; incline your ear to My sayings. Do not let them
depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are Life
to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all
diligence. For out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a
deceitful (devious) mouth, and put
perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids
look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be
established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil.”
Proverbs 4:20-27 NKJV As a father speaking the Wisdom of GOD, Solomon
understood how to live a relational life with GOD. Study Deuteronomy 30:11-20;
Psalm 119:105-112; Proverbs chapters 1-9, 30:5-6; Matthew 6:13, 7:13-14, 12:31-37;
Luke 6:43-49; John 1:1-5, 14-18; 14:6, 22-24; 17:6-19; 1 Corinthians 10:1-21; 1
Thessalonians 1; Hebrews 2:1-4; chapters 3 & 4; 1 Peter 1:22-25; 2 Peter 2.
The
scriptures say that we are to be like CHRIST! How? By taking up our cross
daily, working out the process of our salvation with fear and trembling, by
having the same mindset as CHRIST, by being conformed to CHRIST in the
fellowship of His suffering and the power of His resurrection, by doing the
Will of The Father. “I have been crucified with CHRIST; it is no longer I who
live, but CHRIST lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by
faith in the Son of GOD, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
NKJV Study Matthew 10:34-39; Mark 8:34-38; Luke 14:25-27; Philippians 2-4; Colossians
2-3
Jesus
paraphrased Solomon, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear GOD
and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For GOD will bring every work
into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” when He
said, “More than that, Blessed are those who hear the Word of GOD and keep it!”
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Luke 11:27-28
No comments:
Post a Comment