Sitting at the Feet of Jesus

Setting your priorities straight and learning the importance of sitting under the teaching of the Word of God is foremost on Luke's mind when he tells the tale of two sisters. In Luke 10:38 the story begins when Jesus and His disciples arrive at their home in Bethany: "Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house."

"Martha welcomed Him" (v. 38b), "And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word" (v. 39). The story continues, "But Martha was distracted with much 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'" (v. 40).

As it says, "Martha was distracted" (v. 40a). Martha was fulfilling her societal recognized duties. In that society, the women served and the men sat under the teaching of a priest or rabbi. So, Martha was doing what was expected of her, but her frustration was with her sister Mary. Mary was with the disciples, sitting "at Jesus' feet" (v. 39) and listening to Him teach.

Now before you get too hard on Martha, understand that she was just doing her God-ordained duty. Mary was not. Martha was preparing a meal for Jesus and His disciples, who showed up unexpectedly. That is at least thirteen weary and hungry men! A big task to be handled alone. So Martha just expected Mary to do her duty and help.

That is why she approached Jesus and asked, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me" (v. 40b). Jesus replied, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her" (vs. 41b-42).

Jesus realized why Martha was frustrated. She had a lot on her plate with so many unexpected guests. But Jesus wanted her to understand that there is something better and Mary had chosen "the good part" (v. 42), or "what is better" (NIV). Serving your guests is important, but learning of Jesus is better.

So what do we take away from this? Finding a balance. Finding a way to balance serving our guests, which is important, and hearing God's Word taught, which is better. So, what do we do?

When guests are coming on Sunday, find a way to do what preparations you can in advance. Then, let your guests know that you are going to church, which is extremely important to you. Let them know they are welcome to join you in church. Then, after church, when you arrive home, you can finish your preparations.

If dinner is a little late, that's alright. No one will starve, and you will be respected for standing on your faith and convictions. Perhaps someone will even come to know Christ as their Savior as a result. Just be faithful to honor Jesus, sit at His feet in church, and learn of Him and His Word. That is "what is better" (v. 42b, NIV), or the "good part" (NKJV). Amen.

Great and Mighty Things

Jeremiah 33:1-3 reads: Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the prison, saying, "Thus says the LORD who made it, the LORD who formed it to establish it (the LORD is His name): 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'"

The time reference given in verse 1, "while he was still shut up in the court of the prison," indicates that this "second time" (v. 1) "the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah" (v. 1) follows directly on the heels of the message the Lord gave him in chapter 32 about the fields being purchased and the restoration of fortunes to the people in the villages surrounding Jerusalem. Still being under guard in the "prison" (v. 1) or "the courtyard of the guard" (NIV), the kings officers or elders could easily consult with him.

What this tells us is that the word of God was not bound. When Paul was in prison for his faith, he said, "for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained" (2 Tim. 2:9). "God's word is not chained!" God's word is never bound! To affirm this truth, the Lord affixes His eternal name to the words He is about to speak: "This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it—the LORD is his name" (Jer. 33:2, NIV).

The Lord then invites Jeremiah to test Him. He calls on Jeremiah to ask Him for remarkable things beyond any knowledge Jeremiah has or any understanding: "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know" (v. 3).

That is what the Lord asks of us. And that is the promise He gives us. Do not be afraid to ask for things beyond your knowledge and understanding. The Lord wants to show you unsearchable things, just as He did Jeremiah. The problem is, we don't ask. Jesus said, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you" (Matt. 7:7). Ask of the Lord and He "will show you great and mighty things, which you do not know" (Jer. 33:3). Amen.

Praise! Patience! Prayer!

When a believer, a Christian, first receives Christ as his Lord and Savior, there is an initial glow and passion for serving Christ. But soon after, there is a danger of slipping back into old, sinful habits and a spiritual deadening that leaves your life unchanged.

To protect against this, Paul encourages us to continue steadfastly in God's grace, because the exercise of grace affects our convictions. He tells us, "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Rom. 12:12, NIV). Praise! Patience! Prayer!

When you follow Jesus, you have an anchor in the future. You have a certain hope. This hope is more than simple optimism. It is hope of a future, an eternity with the Lord Jesus in heaven. Such hope fills us with joy. It causes great rejoicing because our sights are set on that great and glorious day when we will be caught up in heaven with Him and we will see His glory and be united with Him forever.

Such hope sustains us and enables us to be "patient in affliction" (v. 12b). "Affliction" (v. 12b) is literally "tribulation." Remember Paul's words in Romans 5:3-4—"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." That brings us full circle! Hope enables patience, and patience, or perseverance, produces character, which leads to hope.

The mention of prayer at this point is only natural. That hope and that patience is grounded in our being "faithful in prayer" (Rom. 12:12c). When under stress and strain our greatest resource is prayer. As James says, "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much" (James 5:16b).

Praise! Patience! Prayer! Rejoice in the hope of your future with Christ. Be patient in all of life's circumstance, knowing that Jesus will see you through. Be faithful in prayer every day. Amen.

Pursue the Way of God

Psalm 1 introduces the Book of Psalms by encouraging us to live righteously before God. In fact, this psalm pronounces God's blessing on all who live a righteous life before Him. It does so by contrasting God's rewards over and against His judgment.

Psalm 1 promotes wise, godly living. It begins by speaking of blessing: "Blessed is the man" (v. 1a). This speaks of joy and gratitude on the part of one who is in fellowship with the Lord. This joy is God's gift to the righteous which nothing can deny or take away.

Our joy is promoted in two ways: separating ourselves from the wicked (v. 1b) and associating with God (v. 2). "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night" (vs. 1-2).

Three negative phrases in verse 1 describe how we are to separate ourselves from the wicked. Do not live by the counsel of ungodly people. Do not stand with sinners or follow their lifestyle. Dare to be different! Do not be "scornful" (v. 1d). Do not get caught up in mocking or scoffing at others, or making scathing comments.

Rather, follow the two positive thoughts of verse 2. Delight yourself in the Word of God. Meditate on it "day and night" (v. 2b). Read it daily. Study it. Let it become a part of you. Live by its every word and command.

Note the contrast made here between the godly and the wicked. Those who are godly are compared to a tree: "He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper" (v. 3). The tree purposely planted by water prospers with fruit and leaves. In the same way, he who purposely plants himself in the Word of God is blessed with righteousness and truth.

"The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous" (vs. 4-5). The wicked are compared to mere "chaff which the wind drives away" (v. 4b). This shows the ease with which God will deal with the ungodly. In the end comes judgment, and the wicked will not stand. Only the righteous will be blessed in the judgment.

The Lord knows those who are His. He intimately knows those who follow Him in godliness and He assures them of His care for them, His protection of them, and His rewards that await them. Note verse 6: "For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish."

Don't perish with the ungodly. Rather, stand with the righteous. Walk after the way of the Lord. Pursue the way of God! Amen.

Reach Out to Jesus

In Acts 17, Paul travels through ancient Greece, a region known as Macedonia. His travels take him from Thessalonica to Berea, and eventually into the region of Achaia and the great city of Athens. There he speaks to people of varying backgrounds and philosophies about the gospel of Jesus Christ. He preaches to Jews and other devout people, as well as to Epicureans (followers of Epicurus) and Stoics, who believe that happiness consists of man becoming one with, or being in harmony with, the universe.

The Epicureans and Stoics took Paul to the Areopagus (a rock in Athens known as Mars Hill by the Romans, where philosophers met to hear new ideas). They wanted to hear more of what Paul spoke. And Paul did not disappoint.

As he spoke to them the gospel of God, he said, "From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us" (Acts 17:26-27, NIV).

God made man, and after the Flood, He made all the nations of the earth from Noah. He even determined their "appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands" (v. 26b). And He did all of this for a purpose: "so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him" (v. 27a).

To "seek him" (v. 27a) is self-explanatory. Every day, in whatever circumstances you find yourself, seek Jesus. "Reach out for him" (v. 27a). If you do, you will find Jesus. In Jeremiah 29:13, God says, "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart" (NKJV).

God has promised. When you seek Him, you will find Him, and He will take care of you and meet your every need. Amen.

A Special Tribute

I would like to thank everyone who reached out to comfort and encourage me at the passing through the portals to heaven of my precious wife of thirty-five and a half years, Barbara. She went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ just after 2:00am on Wednesday, February 6 and was laid to rest in the Aurora Cemetery, Aurora, Nebraska on Wednesday, February 13, following services on Tuesday, February 12 in Stuart, Iowa.

She was greatly loved as seen from all the gracious words that people shared with me and our son, Tim. To quote a few such comments: "Her kindness and love was shown to all of us and she was a living testimony of her deep love for the Lord. Barbara spoke of His faithfulness, love, mercy, and grace to encourage all she came in contact with." "Barbara was a blessing and an inspiration to all of us." "To the end of her life she thought of others, prayed fervently for others, sending cards and making phone calls." "Barbara's life was a life well lived and we thank the Lord for her."

Others added: "Barb was beautiful inside and out!" "Barb was a very special, compassionate and inspiring person. She will be greatly missed." "I'm thankful I got to know Barb. She was so much an example of trusting and resting in the Lord." "We will miss her humor and love for the Lord."

Another commented: "A very special lady has left this earth. We will miss her so much—a very special pastor's wife!" And another: "Barbara was sooo special." And yet another: "She was a special person—one who is definitely going to hear from the Lord, 'Well done, good and faithful servant.'"

Psalm 116:15 says, "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." Barb was used mightily of the Lord throughout her life of faith, but especially so in these last days as she suffered with various illnesses and battles with cancer. Even when first informed of having terminal cancer and perhaps only months to live, all she could do was to testify of the Lord, and the doctor's need of Christ. To the end, the Lord Jesus was her sole focus.

Peter adds: "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:6-7). Such was the life and testimony of Barbara. Throughout her times of suffering, the genuineness of her faith was proven and "praise, honor, and glory" was given to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May that be said of our lives!

As another dear friend of her's wrote: "Barbara was a true friend and the ultimate caregiver! She was a true example of how God wants us to be. She will be missed!" May we all so serve the Lord. Amen.

In His Presence

Time has been getting away from me with Barb's situation. Here is where we are: Barb is getting quite sick again. Her tumor seems to be growing fast, closing off the stent that had been placed between her stomach and small intestine. As a result, she cannot eat or drink very well again. She has also been retaining fluid to the tune of forty pounds of weight gain. To do a tap and drain the fluid would be a daily thing. She chose not to return to Des Moines, but rather to return home and start hospice care. She is home now, and the hospice nurse should be coming today.

Tim is on his way from Oklahoma. Pray for safe travels for Tim, and pray for a miracle for Barb. Pray for God's complete healing and restoration. But whatever God chooses in His sovereign reign in her life, Barb is ready to see Jesus and to join Him in eternity where she will await our arrival.

In Philippians 1:21, Paul said, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." This is the point to which Barb has arrived in her life-long journey with Christ. Paul continued, "But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; 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" (vs. 22-24).

These are Barb's feelings, precisely! She too knows that to live on in the flesh would mean more fruit for her labor in your lives. She also would like to continue on for Tim and me. Yet, like Paul, she is "hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better" (v. 23).

Though she hates to leave us behind, she looks forward with eagerness to seeing Jesus. That is her heart-felt desire—to be in His presence for all eternity. She just wants all of you to know how much she loves you with the precious love of Jesus. Amen.