Daily Devotional – February 18 (Martha, the “Doer” & Mary, the “Hearer”)

By admin On December 10th, 2014

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Daily Devotional – Year 2 – February 18

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MARY, THE “HEARER” & MARTHA, THE “DOER”

THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE ARTICLE… “Martha, the “Doer” & Mary, the “Hearer”

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“I have esteemed the Words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12

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One of the most well-known and beloved stories of the Bible is the account in Luke Chapter 10, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Johannes_(Jan)_Vermeer_-_Christ_in_the_House_of_Martha_and_Mary_-_Google_Art_Project.jpgof Mary and her sister Martha, on the day when Jesus came for dinner.

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As the story goes, Martha was slaving in the kitchen, while her sister, Mary, was “sitting at Jesus’ feet, hearing His Word”. This made Martha angry.

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Listen… “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.”

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Now the Bible makes it very clear, that “Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, Mary…” John 11:5.

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But Mary was definitely a Hearer, while Martha was more of a Doer.

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Martha, today, might be called a “multi-tasker”, or perhaps a “Type-A personality”, or even a “workaholic”.

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Jesus – Johannes (Jan) Vermeer – Christ in the House of Martha and Mary – Google Art Project – Public Domain

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“THE LORD LOOKETH UPON THE HEART”

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“…the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Johannes_(Jan)_Vermeer_-_Christ_in_the_House_of_Martha_and_Mary_-_Google_Art_Project.jpgLORD on the heart.” 1st Samuel 16:7

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Now for most of us it would be Martha we would commend, for her business; and Mary we would scold, for her laziness.

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This is because our human nature is not so nearly concerned about the spiritual condition of the heart, as we are with good works.

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Everyone loves an industrious person!

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Jesus – Johannes (Jan) Vermeer – Christ in the House of Martha and Mary – Google Art Project – Public Domain

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HEARING, THE BEST WORK

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Johannes_(Jan)_Vermeer_-_Christ_in_the_House_of_Martha_and_Mary_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg

But surprise, surprise! It was not Martha, the Doer, which Jesus commended, but it was Mary, the Hearer.

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Listen to Jesus’ very tender scolding of Martha… “And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art care-filled 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.” Matthew 10:40-42

 

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In this little story, the Lord is not condemning good works.

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Jesus – Johannes (Jan) Vermeer – Christ in the House of Martha and Mary – Google Art Project – Public Domain

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CONTEMPLATING BIBLE OUR FIRST DUTY!

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The big point of this story is, that the Lord places a higher value on His people spending much time, listening to the life-giving words of thehttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%22However_pressing_his_duties_STM2-c_James_Lee_Frazer_always_finds_time_to_read_a_few_chapters_from_his_Bible_each_day._I_-_NARA_-_520675.jpg Bible, than in the mere performance of good works.

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Listen… “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path…Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in Thy word.” Psalm 119:105, 148.

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And Martha’s bad attitude was exactly why it is of utmost importance to allow God’s Word to fill the heart and mind!

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To vanquish away such pride, which obviously motivated Martha’s judgment against her sister!

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However pressing his duties STM2-c James Lee Frazer always finds time to read a few chapters from his Bible each day. I – NARA – 520675 – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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WHEN “GOOD” WORKS BECOME “BAD” WORKS

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“I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_100326-N-4774B-066_Chaplain_Lt._Jason_Gregory_reads_bible_verses_on_the_weather_deck_aboard_the_guided-missile_cruiser_USS_Bunker_Hill_(CG_52).jpg.

Now God is not calling for Christians to cease from good works.

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Good works are not necessarily bad, unless of course they begin to eclipse a Christian’s relationship with the Lord: the daily, hourly, and even, our moment-by-moment meditation of His Word!

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But God is saying that what Mary was doing was the best work. And let’s face it, Martha’s bad attitude showed that her good works were mingled with anger, jealousy and pride.

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Martha’s judgmental spirit was proof-positive that she, Martha, needed a change of heart.

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US Navy – Chaplain Lt. Jason Gregory reads Bible on weather deck – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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“HEARING HIS WORD”

(see Luke 10:39)

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“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

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As this above verse proclaims the Bible is a powerful book!

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And those who seek to become changed into the image of Christ, will find that life-transforming power.

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Listen… But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2nd Corinthians 3:18.

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If our purpose for reading God’s Word, is to get to know Jesus, and make Him our divine Role-Model, then God’s Spirit will open our eyes to behold wondrous things out of the Bible.

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And so, by hiding that Word in our hearts, and by shutting out the vain words of Man, we will be changed, imperceptibly, into Christ’s Image, by-and-by. 

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Transfiguration – Bloch – Wikimedia Commons – US Public-Domain

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OUR DAILY MANTRA

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Children's_Playground,_Nicholas_Everitt_Park,_Oulton_Broad,_Lowestoft,_Suffolk_-_geograph.org.uk_-_24553.jpg“O how I love Thy Law (Word). It is my meditation all the day” Psalm 119:11.

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This verse should be our daily mantra: to go about our day, meditating on God’s http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USMC-06831.jpglife-giving Word, as we work, as we sit down, as we engage in recreation.

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This kind of a life can only be achieved by the grace of God, and not by mere human effort.

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And we must seek this as our goal, as though we are seeking for lost treasure.

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Family – Children’s Playground – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USMC-100506-M-2360J-038.jpg

TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to daily sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His Word. Keep me from getting so involved with worldly business, that I have little time nor inclination to devote myself to studying and praying and meditating on Thy Word…

Marine Praying – Wikimedia – USMC Public Domain

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Martha, the “Doer” & Mary, the “Hearer””

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

.Soldiers of the Cross - Armor-Up!

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & Internation Astronomical Union (click here)

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WIKIPEDIA STAR-CHART

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This constellation was identified on May 22nd, 2014. It is simply five stars, two from the Serpens Constellation, and three from the Hercules Constellation.

Wikipedia Star-Chart - Corona Borealis

Wikipedia Star-Chart – Corona Borealis

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What gives this constellation impetus and significance is that it appears as five evenly positioned stars, in a slight oval pattern, as if they were sitting in a meeting, listening, or perhaps watching someone.

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Second, they appear to be gathered in front of The Crown of Revelation 12 Constellation. (just below Corona Borealis in this Wikipedia star-chart, in which the editor of this site sketched in these two constellations)

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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Summer constellation – Five Wise Virgins Stars & The Glorious Crown – Corona Borealis – signsofheaven.org – Not for profit uses! – Wikipedia Star chart with constellations drawn in by this website.

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AT THE FEET OF JESUS

.Son Of Man Constellation

Now there is another extremely incredible aspect to this star-group!

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You see, if we could step back far enough (about several light-years backward) we would see this next constellation! It is called, “The Sign of the Son of Man Constellation”. As it now stands, it spans both the Summer and Winter skies, so that only half of it can be seen at a time.

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It is more curved than this drawing. But you will notice that the Five Wise Virgins are gathered at the right foot of Jesus.

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This reminds us of the story of Mary and Martha, when Jesus came for supper.

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Yes, just as Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, so too, these Five Wise Virgins Stars symbolize God’s faithful people sitting at the feet of Jesus, “hearing His Word”

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ABOVE STAR-CHART (constellations found on Wikipedia and Bible constellations drawn in by this website) – Sign of the Son of Man – www.theheavensdeclare.net – Not for commercial uses

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read…The Five Wise Virgins Stars

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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TOMORROW:

“February 19 (Go Ye Into All Your Heart!)”

Thy Word Have I Hid In My Heart – wwwtheheavensdeclare.net – not for commercial purposes

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH 

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #414 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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