Michael continues: In Luke 10: 40-42, Martha was distracted from the Word of the Lord. She was encumbered about with much serving. She complained to Jesus, I’m doing all the work, but my sister Mary isn’t helping me. Jesus said, Mary has chosen that good thing; to sit at the feet of the Master with a spirit of meekness to receive the Word of God. Romans 8 says that no one can really say “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. Without the spirit of God in Christ in us, we cannot confess that Jesus is Lord; that he is lord and owner of my life. To confess Jesus is Lord means to turn around to repent from professing “I’m the lord of my own life” and to turn to Jesus, bowing down in meekness and humility to serve Him from a heart of love.
The prophet Ezekiel said, They come and sit before me to hear my words but they do not do them. They hear your words, Lord, but do not practice them. When the judgement of the Lord comes upon them, it will be too late. They will know that God’s righteous judgement has overtaken them.
When Jesus confronted the religious leaders of his day, he said, Well did Isaiah prophecy of you. You draw near me with your mouth and appear to worship me with your lips, but your heart is far from me. You are of your father the devil. He was a liar from the beginning and the father of lies and cannot speak truth. You are just like your father. Jesus said to the multitude at the Sermon on the mount, people worry about their material needs. He said, consider the lilies of the field and the birds of the air. They toil not, neither do they spin thread to make their clothes. Yet, Solomon in all of his royal splendor was not arrayed like one of these. If God so clothed the lilies of the field, will He not much more clothe you, oh you of little faith? Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these other things (your material needs) will be added unto you.
The devil appears as an angel of light to distract God’s people from entering into the narrow gate that leads to the narrow way. His lies are the same lie that he told Eve. God does not love you and His word is not true. If you disobey God and eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you will be like God. Don’t worship God; worship yourself. In Luke 10:17-20 Jesus said, Even though you cast out demons in Jesus’ name, and. even though you saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning, do not rejoice because the demons are subject to you in my name. Instead, rejoice because your names are written in heaven.
The devil will condemn us for our failure to perform; for our missing the mark. However, God doesn’t want our performance, our works of our own self-righteousness. He doesn’t want our actions or our behavior. He wants our heart. Therefore, keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. For your life is hid with Christ in God that together we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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