In reading the account of Mary and Martha, we learn a lot from Martha's teachable spirit. I'm afraid I tend to be more like Martha sometimes, thinking I have value because I am productive. But I have learned along the way that I have value simply because I belong to Christ. It's not so much what I do, it's who I am in Him!
We also have some choices to make when we are corrected, rebuked, or chastened. We can receive it or we can refuse it. The Scriptures tell us to correct, rebuke and chasten one another - so what's our response to all this? Usually - rebellion ... "Don't tell me what to do!" Even if we don't say it out loud to the person correcting us, it is in our hearts and swimming around in our heads. We practically blow up holding back the anger at being chastened; an anger that is ready to explode out of our mouths (and, sadly, sometimes does).
Read the Mary and Martha story in Luke 10:38-42 ... that was some correction Martha received! It doesn't go on to tell us what her response to Jesus was at that time, but we see her transformation into an obedient and worshipful woman in John 11:1-44 and John 12:1-11 ... a transformation we all need.
Scriptures for today's lesson:
Luke 10:38-42
John 11:1-44
John 12:1-11
2 Chronicles 24:19
Nehemiah 9:30
2 Timothy 3:7
James 1:22
Proverbs 3:12
Psalm 119:67-68
Hebrews 12:11
Psalm 51:1-17
We also have some choices to make when we are corrected, rebuked, or chastened. We can receive it or we can refuse it. The Scriptures tell us to correct, rebuke and chasten one another - so what's our response to all this? Usually - rebellion ... "Don't tell me what to do!" Even if we don't say it out loud to the person correcting us, it is in our hearts and swimming around in our heads. We practically blow up holding back the anger at being chastened; an anger that is ready to explode out of our mouths (and, sadly, sometimes does).
Read the Mary and Martha story in Luke 10:38-42 ... that was some correction Martha received! It doesn't go on to tell us what her response to Jesus was at that time, but we see her transformation into an obedient and worshipful woman in John 11:1-44 and John 12:1-11 ... a transformation we all need.
Scriptures for today's lesson:
Luke 10:38-42
John 11:1-44
John 12:1-11
2 Chronicles 24:19
Nehemiah 9:30
2 Timothy 3:7
James 1:22
Proverbs 3:12
Psalm 119:67-68
Hebrews 12:11
Psalm 51:1-17
Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of sermon and/or download mp3 file.)
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