That Good Part

Some days when I attempt to write I can’t.  I have nothing in the forefront of my mind to share.  Perhaps it’s on these days that I need to go drink from the fountains of living water again, and bask in the radiance of Jesus’ transcendent smile.  I need to choose that good part, that will not be taken away from me.

"But Martha was cumbered about much serving,

and came to him (Jesus),

and said, Lord,

dost thou not care

that my sister hath left me

to serve alone?

bid her therefore that she help me.

And Jesus answered and said unto her,

Martha, Martha,

thou art careful 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."

That good part. What is it?

"And she had a sister called Mary,

which also sat at Jesus' feet,
and heard his word."

(Luke 10:38-42)

The message we believers have to share is not our own as though it were all about us.  Perhaps it’s on days like these, that we need to be reminded that all God really wants is our adoration; for us to meditate on His promises, to rejoice in gratitude for His unspeakable gift of salvation bought by the death of the Only Begotten.

In reality, that’s all He ever wanted from His creation in the first place; our praise and adoration.  He showers us with blessings because He loves us. Isn’t it only right that He gets all of our attentiveness.  And as we look to our resurrected Lord. He then turns our gaze on others; to seek their good and salvation.

I’m going to go read my Bible;

I need something fresh from Heaven. 

“He must increase,
      WE must decrease!”

Sorry, sorry, sorry, ........ sorry.

There are some parts of the English language that if they get used too frequently or haphazardly that they tend to lose their significance.  Two of those parts is the phrase, “I love you.” And the word, ‘sorry’.

When someone says ‘I love you’ haphazardly than the recipient is left wondering if what was meant is the charitable love of 1 Cor. 13 which is the love of Christ, or do they simply mean I really appreciate you a lot; I like you.  Or is it the kind of love the publicans had who were saying you’re one of us therefore ‘I love you’.  Usually it’s obvious when it is the charitable kind of love because their actions have already demonstrated it before hand.

Now, in my home, we are trying to get our children to stop saying ‘sorry’ upon every word of correction or conflict.  Frequently it’s repeated four or five times in succession apparently for emphasis.  We are now requiring them to reserve the “I’m sorry” phrase for when they have clearly disobeyed or done something hurtful or spiteful to one another.  They then are required to say “I’m sorry for ‘whatever they did’, it was wrong, please forgive me.”

This is new to them so when we speak to them and they say, “Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.” Pause “Sorry.” and we then remind them that they did it again, the first thing they say is “sorry.” J  When we give them simple instruction or mild correction we are trying to get them to simply acknowledge what we said, say “yes mom” or “yes dad” and then say something like “I will try.”; But not “Sorry.”

We want “I’m sorry” to be reserved for when there is sin involved; the sin of disobedience or the sin of mistreating others.  It’s no different with our God.  He demonstrated His love for us in that while we were sinners Christ died for us.  God said, “I have loved you with and everlasting love” in the book of Jeremiah. This is His love toward those who are the whosoever’s that chose to respond to His overtures toward them.  He doesn’t want to hear the haphazard “I’m sorry” of an unrepentant heart.  God wants to hear us say to Him and will accept the genuine “I’m sorry Jesus I sinned against You, I’m sorry You had to die for me, thank You for doing that for me, I know I didn’t deserve Your love but I’m so glad You love me. I love You Jesus. AMEN.”

In that is the beginning of a beautiful relationship with Him where He continually increases in significance in our lives and our own selfish endeavors decrease.

“He must increase, and WE must decrease!”

Out of the Mouths of Babes

 

            We had just gone through, well actually were going through a very difficult situation.  While some of us saw a “light at the end of the tunnel” still others saw no hope at all.  One morning on the Lord’s Day there was a spiritual breakthrough, many victories seemed to be claimed, the light of God's glory shone brightly into our hearts; there was joy and there were tears.

            As we left church that day, spanning the sky across the street was a beautifully full, vivid, double-rainbow that seemed to jump out at us.  Many people were commenting and pointing. 

It was a wonderfully uplifting sight. 

But not nearly as uplifting as what came out of Autumn’s mouth.  She was with us in the car.  (This is the Autumn mentioned in my “There’s abigANT in the toilet” post.) 

As we pulled out of the parking lot commenting about the rainbow but not inclined to believe in signs; we were speaking about its beauty and vividness.  That’s when Autumn spoke up and said rather matter-of-factly, “God is telling us that everything’s gonna be alright.”



"And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth." Genesis 9:17



"Out of the mouths of babes, Thou LORD hast perfected praise." (Matt. 21:16)
 Just as the believing Israelites praised Jesus for His wonderful works; And just as children so easily praise Him for His wonderful works in creation.  As it is written, “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the ‘skies’ shows His handiwork.”  So too we need to recognize His handiwork and praise Him for the wonderful confirmations of His love and promises toward us...

 “He must increase, and WE must decrease!”

“God is telling us that everything’s gonna be alright.”

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