4 Notice, Jesus has just told us what one thing we need to do (42); the good part. Like Mary, we must sit at his feet and listen to his words, his teachings, his commands (39). Jesus was not reading the Bible to Mary. And neither do we listen to Jesus by someone reading the Bible. Neither do we show respect to Jesus by talking instead of being quiet and waiting to hear him speak. To hear his word, teachings, and commands, which are specifically tailored to our condition, we must come to him (wait in humble silence), listen for his words, hear his words, believe them to be from the Son of God, and then obey them as though your soul depends on obeying, (which it does). Jesus speaks to us with his word from within our hearts, and we must silently listen for his words: For everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words and does [practices] them.. is like a man building his house on rock. Luke 6:47-48. We must listen, hear, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21. From the Word of the Lord within: "If those who hear will obey, their progress will be swift." If you don't hear his voice, you are still lost in your sins; but if you listen and obey the voice of the truth, your soul is purified by obedience to the truth.1 Peter 1:22. Like Abraham, the father of our faith, whose faith obeyed the voice of the Lord, we too must evidence our faith by obedience to the voice of the Lord. Faith without obedience is only the lip service of hypocrites: This people draws near to me with their mouth, and honors me with their lips; but their hearts are far from me. Mat 15:7-9.
All your holy ones are in your power. And they sit at your feet, each receiving your words. Deu 33:3
There is only one thing needed, and Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Martha is busy with works of the flesh: serving, cooking, etc.; while Mary is listening to words from the Spirit that impart the life of God to the listener: It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life-giving. John 6:63. And if we listen to the teachings we receive, keep, and practice them; these teachings and your resulting works of obedience to the commands of the Lord will not be taken away (42) — they will survive with us, going into the next life; when every man's works pass through the fire, the teachings heard and practiced will not be burnt up. Works of the flesh are anything that you are not ordered to do by God, including witnessing, teaching, preaching, reading, writing books, campaigning for social causes, campaigning against evil, singing in the choir, being a lay minister, etc.
It is a cross to a man's will to sit silently, struggling to keep his mind from wandering; it is a cross to a man's will to obey what he is commanded and taught by the Holy Spirit; this is the cross of which you must deny yourself and pick up every day to follow Jesus. To follow is to obey. You cannot be his disciple unless you pick up your cross daily (to listen in silence) and follow his orders. To follow his commands is to deny your will, and instead do His will: "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Salvation is only received by those who follow the lamb wherever he goes — who obey completely the voice of the Lord, in whatever he commands. Do not be discouraged if you don't hear for some time. Even your waiting is to your credit: Let your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, in proportion to our waiting and hoping on you. Psalms 33:22. For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by ear, nor has the eye seen a God beside you, who acts for the one who waits for him. Isa 64:4.
From the Word of the Lord within:
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