This message starts a series that studies why Jesus scolded Martha while she was just asking for help in serving others, but praised Mary while she sat and did nothing to help. This doesn't make sense to our way of thinking but instead of realizing that Jesus must have had a good reason, and ask God for understanding we just slide past it with barely a thought.

One of the truly great admonitions in the Bible is James 1:22, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves". We treat this much like someone smoking who sees a sign saying NO SMOKING but continues to do so anyway. The sign reminds them of something they know they should act on, but they are living in a quandary, knowing they should stop but lacking the motivation, so they continue on deceiving themselves.

People do what they do for one of three reasons, “They see a need, They are shown a need or, They are threatened.” If a doctor says stop smoking or you will have incurable cancer within a year, and then die in just months after that, some will take the doctor seriously while others will say, that's just an opinion.

The difference for believers is that God doesn't give us an opinion, He shows us truth. The Scriptures are for us to act on but we treat them as suggestions. We don't take God seriously because we feel no eminent threat.

Jesus told us of the Rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16 to make it clear that the things we do now make a permanent difference, there are no do-overs. He has given us all a choice, we can realize there is a need to take action or choose to continue as we are and believe anything we want. The wise man will build his spiritual house on by acting on the word.

Salient Points: Non believing hypocrisy, Trusting in a disaster, Prayers against God’s will, The last church, Here for God not self, Messages not preached, But someone must do it, Missing the meaning, Living beyond now, Attention on self, What God wants us to understand, Applying understanding, It’s all for God, The yoke of bondage, Separated by sin, Real freedom, Bound by works, In awe of God, Ye did run well, Recognizing God’s hand, How important is sin, Distracted, Not here for self, Created with understanding, Considering God, Cumbered about, Keeping God in church, Where is God, Why this way, Taking God seriously, Praying against God, By their fruit.

Scripture: Lk. 10:38-42, Gal. 5:1.7-9, Mt. 10:38-42

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