Good Morning Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
I don’t watch the news any longer and haven’t for several months. Why? Because there’s absolutely nothing of value in it for me. Some call me uninformed, misinformed, an isolationist, an ostrich with his head in the sand, unknowledgeable, out of touch, etc. And, they are correct. I am “out of touch, uninformed, and isolated” from the wisdom of this world. My feelings about the wisdom of this world are summed up by my Father:
I Corinthians 3:19-21
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain [empty].
21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
The above is why I pay no attention to the news or the wisdom of this world. I only pay attention to what the Word of God says and follow its wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and instruction: precept upon precept, line upon line. Note what God also says in verse 21. We’re not to glory in a man or a woman of the world. Why? Because they in their best state – physically and materially – are no match for a man or woman of God who understands how to operate in the Kingdom of God. All things good and perfect in this world (James 1:17) belong to the Believer.
We have a great lesson in what is important according to God from Luke 10:38-42. Jesus is visiting with Mary and Martha in Martha’s home. Martha gets busy preparing a meal to serve to Jesus, Mary, and herself. Mary sits at Jesus’ feet to do what? Verse 39 tells us, “…and heard His Word.” Now, the world, in its wisdom, would call Mary lazy, concerned about herself, selfish, self-centered, ignorant, etc. You see this in Martha’s words when she comes to Jesus in verse 40 and says, “Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me.” What was Jesus’ reply? “Martha, Martha, thou are careful and troubled about many things:”. Note, Jesus says she is not only concerned with preparing and serving the meal, but he reveals her heart to her that she is “careful and troubled about many things.”
The Holy Spirit took me to Luke 8:11-15 and said focus on verse 14. Jesus is explaining the parable of the sower. The seed is the Word of God:
Luke 8:14
And that [the seed, the Word] which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
This verse describes Martha and most of the Believers in the world today. As Jesus said to Martha, “…thou are careful and troubled about many things.” So many Believers live a life filled with concern, fear, doubt, and unbelief because they listen to and are stained with the wisdom and words of this world. Growing up on a farm, my grandfather taught me, you can’t get around a pig pen without getting soiled. Just going around but not going into the pig pen, you will still come away with mud or dirt somewhere on you. Jesus makes this clear when He says you can’t serve two masters: you’ll hate one and love the other. The master you spend the most time with is the one you will love. And, it will be the one that will input the most to your heart, so when the spiritual attacks come, whatever has the greatest influence over your heart will be how you will react. Your reaction can ONLY be fear or faith. There is no other choice.
Jesus further instructs Martha in verse 42, “But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” What is needful? Yes, the Word of God, and Mary has chosen the Word of God over the cares of this world. As if this isn’t enough, Jesus further instructs Martha that the “Word shall not be taken away from her.” Who would try to take the Word away from Mary? Yes, Satan. Jesus makes this clear in Luke 8:12 when He says, “Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the Word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.” Some Believers never pass “Go” and end up living in bondage or “jail” because the Word has little value to them. Satan can easily steal away the Word from them and have them continue living like the world – in bondage to Satan’s lies. Some Believers receive the Word, but they allow the cares and lusts of life to choke their faith in the Word. They produce a small harvest of fruit, and it is not even fully developed. This is what Jesus is teaching Martha in their exchange.
In closing, I’ll elaborate further on the most important promise of verse 42: “…which shall not be taken away from her.” When your priority is God’s Word, when your trust is only in God’s Word, when you stand in faith upon God’s Word, and when you operate in the Laws of the Kingdom of God, NOTHING can be taken away from you by Satan. None of the promises or the Blessing of God can be taken away from you by Satan. We are to win – ALL THE TIME. This does not mean Satan will not come against you. He will, and Jesus warns us of this. But Jesus also said, “greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world” and “we are more than conquerors through Christ that loved us.” Satan will come against us, but he is not able to harm us unless we allow him to do so. Why? Because this is God’s promise in Isaiah 54:14 and 17, among many other places in Scripture. However, if you can’t believe this – FULLY – it won’t happen for you. God is no respecter of persons; therefore, whatever He will do for one child of God, He will do for all children of God.
Going forward, “choose that good part” and enjoy the daily victories and richness of the Blessing in Christ. It’s not a fairy tale. It is the one thing that is truly Truth.
In Christ,
Larry