So, I'm just going to pick up where I left off.
Day 10 - Listen and Learn - Luke 8:1-56
Check out the parable of the seeds in Luke 8:5-15. "The seed is the word of God." (vs. 11) How do you receive the word of God? There are four kinds of ground:
- The way side: this ground is trodden down and the seed is eaten by birds. Do you feel trodden down? Are you letting your circumstances get the best of you? Don't let your circumstances overwhelm you. God is bigger than any problem you are going through!
- The rock: this ground was hard. The seeds were not able to grow because the ground had no moisture and nourishment. Have you let your heart become hard? Do you no longer feel the Word of God speak to your heart?
- The thorns: on this ground, when the seeds began to grow, the thorns choked them and they died. This kind of ground makes me think of someone that surrounds themselves with the wrong type of friends. You can be good ground, with good intentions, but your friends can influence you. They can choke out all of the good things you try to do.
- The good ground: this ground received the seeds and bore fruit. This is the kind of ground we should try to be...
"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." James 1:22
Day 11 - A Touch of Something More - Mark 8:1-38
This devotion is from the Revolve Devotional Bible (Thomas Nelson Publishing).
"A Touch of Something More" (Focus on Mark 8:22-26)
"And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.
And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.
And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.
And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town." Mark 8:22-26
"The touch of Jesus' hand, even a touch on His cloak, brought instant healing to countless people. When Jesus said the word, diseases fled, lives were made whole and faith was born.
Then why did Jesus take more time healing this blind man? Was it a more difficult case? Stumped Him a bit, maybe? Not by a long shot. There's no such thing as a more difficult case for Jesus - or even a semi-difficult one, for that matter.
Jesus may have had several reasons for working gradually instead of instantly in this man. Because of Jesus' personal touch, the man saw his own healing happen. He experienced his own gradual change, his "rebirth" to new sight. And how incredible that his very first vision of the world was his Savior's face!
Just like that blind man, your spiritual eyes need more of Jesus' personal touch. He isn't your "halfway Savior." He isn't satisfied with giving you a minimal experience of himself. And that's an amazing thought - you have the chance to spend time up close with the all-powerful Lord of the universe, worthy of worship and praise. You get to belong to His loving, heavenly Father who works personally in your life.
When you stay close to God, He'll show you greater depths of Himself. He'll open the eyes of your heart more and more, and He'll give you the ability to understand His truth more clearly. Draw near to God, and let His touch transform you." - Revolve Devotional Bible
Listen to the song "Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord" by Michael W. Smith and pray for God to open your eyes to the wondrous things He has in store for you!
Day 12 - Martha, Martha - Luke 10:1-42
What's your typical day like? I'm still single and living at home, so I know that mine is nowhere near as busy as yours. My mom's typical day consists of getting up, fixing breakfast for my little brother, ironing my dad's work shirt and pants, getting ready for work, working from 8-3, running errands, grocery shopping, balancing the bank statement, washing 2 loads of towels and three loads of clothes, cooking supper (usually two different meals since my family is made up of picky eaters), cleaning the kitchen, washing more towels, loading the dishwasher, ironing, picking up the living room, forcing my brother to wash his hair and brush his teeth...the list goes on and on. I know that your life is probably just as crazy.
It seems like we all are trying to squeeze 25 hours of stuff into a 24 hour day. We run from the time we get up until we fall into bed (usually much later than we should). We juggle families, responsibilities, jobs, hobbies, friends and money - and we're supposed to do it all while looking and smelling good.
Crazy schedules are not new to women. Remember, "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:9) And in Luke 10:38, we meet Martha. I love that she's named Martha, because she reminds me of Martha Stewart. She loves to have Jesus over to her house. She loves to entertain. I'm sure that she had stressed for days about Jesus' visit. She had probably washed her best table linens and made sure that she had her best pottery clean and polished. Her menu had to be just right. Nothing but the best would be served at her house...especially when she was serving the Savior! She had probably gathered spices and fragrant flowers for the centerpieces and slaved for hours making sure every little detail was perfect.
And what was her sister doing? Just when Martha needed the most help getting the meat served and the wine poured, she looked around and found her little sister sitting at Jesus' feet. It just wasn't fair! Martha had done all this work, and Mary couldn't even help her get the food on the table once the guests arrived!
Martha had finally had enough. She was sure that Jesus was going to agree with her that Mary should be busy working, so she went and tattled on her sister's laziness. But instead of agreeing with Martha, Jesus rebuked her.
Martha, just like us, was juggling too many things at once. She was so busy that she couldn't even see the wonderful Gift that was sitting at her dinner table. Check out what Jesus told her:
"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." Luke 10:41-42
Martha was troubled. She was so busy and so worried about every little detail. She was so focused on service that she forgot who she was serving and why she wanted to serve Him in the first place.
Mary, on the other hand, had made a good decision to take time to listen to Jesus teach.
I will never be a Mary. Hospitality is one of my spiritual gifts, and business is woven into my DNA. I like to be busy. I like to do things. I'm not one to just sit and watch and listen. But if I work and work without ever stopping to listen to Jesus and let Him teach me, I'm missing out on a "good part." I want to choose the "good part," don't you?
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