serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha.”
When the Lord says any word twice, you are in trouble! “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things” (v. 41).
Martha was exclaiming that her problems were that Mary wouldn’t help her. Jesus then explains that it’s not her problem. She had a whole bunch of other problems. Jesus says, “You have piled up things in your life that have distracted, depressed, and worried you. Mary is not your problem. You are troubled about many things.” Then Jesus says, “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (v. 42).
Here is a microcosm of human will in operation. Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear His Word. Martha chose many thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors that were troubling her. She complains about the condition of her life, and Jesus highlights Mary’s choice, and that it is not going to be taken away from her. In other words, “Now Martha, it is time for you to make a choice and deal with those things that are troubling your life.”
RENEWAL TRUTH
My first priority in life
is to seek God’s Kingdom and
His righteousness.
(Matthew 6:33)
Complaining to God about your life won’t change anything. That’s why when we pray negative, whiny, complaining prayers, and wonder why nothing happens, we are inadvertently crippling ourselves. What did you ask for? “I told God how I felt. I told Him I didn’t need anyone. Doesn’t He understand?” God answered your prayer. He just nodded His head at how miserable you are. Whining and complaining to God won’t change a thing. You have chosen to be the way you are and where you are. When you start saying, “Lord, I am going to make some new choices,” God says, “Now I can get involved.”
“Lord, I believe I am healed in the name of Jesus.” Jesus responds, “I can confirm that” (1 Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:5).
“Lord, I am prospering and getting out of debt.” God says, “I can get involved in that” (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3).
“The joy of the Lord is my strength. No more depression for me!” The Lord responds, “I can confirm that” (Nehemiah 8:10; Isaiah 54:14-17).
Now God has something to work with because you are starting to change and make godly choices. As long as you are just complaining about your circumstances, the Lord says the same thing to you as He said to Martha. “Lord, I am having a bad day. Don’t You know how my boss treats me?” The Lord says, “Martha, Martha, it’s not only your boss, you have many things that you are troubled about.” Mary has chosen. She made a choice. Mary is sitting at Jesus’ feet, hearing the Word, and Martha is worried and troubled, all because of choices.
Paul’s Choice
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.
Philippians 1:21-22
Paul is explaining here that to live is okay, but to die in Christ is better. We are going to have to choose. If I stay and continue to preach, teach, and minister, it will produce fruit for the Kingdom and for this earthly life. Paul realized the value of man’s choice. He understood the gift God was giving to us when He allowed us to choose.
Yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
Philippians 1:22-24
Think of it. Here is a guy who is so developed in his relationship with God and in his control of his own will, he says, “Man, I would like to go and be with the Lord right now.”
In 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” In other
When the Lord says any word twice, you are in trouble! “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things” (v. 41).
Martha was exclaiming that her problems were that Mary wouldn’t help her. Jesus then explains that it’s not her problem. She had a whole bunch of other problems. Jesus says, “You have piled up things in your life that have distracted, depressed, and worried you. Mary is not your problem. You are troubled about many things.” Then Jesus says, “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (v. 42).
Here is a microcosm of human will in operation. Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear His Word. Martha chose many thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors that were troubling her. She complains about the condition of her life, and Jesus highlights Mary’s choice, and that it is not going to be taken away from her. In other words, “Now Martha, it is time for you to make a choice and deal with those things that are troubling your life.”
RENEWAL TRUTH
My first priority in life
is to seek God’s Kingdom and
His righteousness.
(Matthew 6:33)
Complaining to God about your life won’t change anything. That’s why when we pray negative, whiny, complaining prayers, and wonder why nothing happens, we are inadvertently crippling ourselves. What did you ask for? “I told God how I felt. I told Him I didn’t need anyone. Doesn’t He understand?” God answered your prayer. He just nodded His head at how miserable you are. Whining and complaining to God won’t change a thing. You have chosen to be the way you are and where you are. When you start saying, “Lord, I am going to make some new choices,” God says, “Now I can get involved.”
“Lord, I believe I am healed in the name of Jesus.” Jesus responds, “I can confirm that” (1 Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:5).
“Lord, I am prospering and getting out of debt.” God says, “I can get involved in that” (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3).
“The joy of the Lord is my strength. No more depression for me!” The Lord responds, “I can confirm that” (Nehemiah 8:10; Isaiah 54:14-17).
Now God has something to work with because you are starting to change and make godly choices. As long as you are just complaining about your circumstances, the Lord says the same thing to you as He said to Martha. “Lord, I am having a bad day. Don’t You know how my boss treats me?” The Lord says, “Martha, Martha, it’s not only your boss, you have many things that you are troubled about.” Mary has chosen. She made a choice. Mary is sitting at Jesus’ feet, hearing the Word, and Martha is worried and troubled, all because of choices.
Paul’s Choice
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.
Philippians 1:21-22
Paul is explaining here that to live is okay, but to die in Christ is better. We are going to have to choose. If I stay and continue to preach, teach, and minister, it will produce fruit for the Kingdom and for this earthly life. Paul realized the value of man’s choice. He understood the gift God was giving to us when He allowed us to choose.
Yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
Philippians 1:22-24
Think of it. Here is a guy who is so developed in his relationship with God and in his control of his own will, he says, “Man, I would like to go and be with the Lord right now.”
In 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” In other
Similar Books
