To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
Lord God, You have shown me what is good; and what You require of me—to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with You, my God. Have You as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in my obeying Your voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. To love You with all my heart, with all my understanding, with all my soul, and with all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. So I, by the help of my God, return; I observe mercy and justice, and wait on my God continually. Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. One thing is needed, and Mary chose that good part, which would not be taken away from her. It is You, Lord God, who works in me both to will and to do for Your good pleasure.
May my life be a pleasing sacrifice to You as I try to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with You, Lord God.
PROVERBS 21:3; MICAH 6:8; 1 SAMUEL 15:22; MARK 12:33; HOSEA 12:6; LUKE 10:39, 42; PHILIPPIANS 2:13 Dr. David Jeremiah Life-Changing Moments with God
If you haven't caught on yet, the book by Dr. Jeremiah called "Life-Changing Moments with God" is a book of Scriptural prayers.
In this life that I have been directed to live since my Wife and I took this leap of faith, silence and solitude have become a greater part of our lives especially in these early morning hours.
Your question to ask yourself is do you neglect the important part as Martha did?
Are you separating yourself from the world's ideals? Are you listening for the Word of God in your walk with Jesus? Are you just going through the motions?
Are you at all considering that the times in which you now live are indeed the End Times written of in God's Word? That the reality is His return is imminent?
Are you focused on obedience to God's Word?
Those commended by the Ruler in the parable of the talents were doers of the Word and not hearers only as the one who was condemned for his inactivity with what he was given.
Are you spending a with Jesus on days other than Sunday mornings and other Church service times? Are you talking with Jesus as if He were your Savior, Lord, best friend? Or have you been really treating Him like He's your servant, to be there at your beck and call? To always bail you out because you're not living as you were commanded by Him?
One thing in life is important. Obedience to your Savior Jesus Christ. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself follows it.
Now the word all means all and that's all that all means.
Not the leftovers. Not what you feel like or don't feel like. All.
If what you do isn't aligned with God’s Word, then it stands to figure you need to reevaluate if you are going to live right before Christ. Does it align with Colossians 3:23-25 NASB? "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the rewardof the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For the one who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality."
John 9:4 NASB "We must carry out the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming, when no one can work."
Can you see the trend? Can you see the importance?
Our lives are finite. We weren't born to live for ourselves. We weren't born to spend our time solely on our own thoughts and desires. We were originally born to worship God and serve Him only. Our thoughts and desires get us in literally a world of trouble.
Look around your house, your apartment, your flat. What signs do you see of God? What signs do you see of your devotion to Christ Jesus? Is your past mirrored in the place in which you live? Does your devotion to things of this world ring out in your clothing, your time spent, your lifestyle? Or is it you living life working out your salvation?
Is your life a reflection of Christ Jesus or is it a reflection of you? We are saved to be transformed into His likeness, not to stay as we were.
One thing is important...and Jesus wouldn't take that away from Mary.
Read that passage about Mary and Martha. Jesus easily could have scolded Martha as He had Peter. Telling her something akin to: "But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s purposes, but men’s.”
We embrace stumbling blocks rather than cry out to God for His help in destroying them.
Rather than go through the valley of the shadow of death we try to strike bargains with God on what we'll do if He saves us from them.
Rather than...well you get the point.
One thing is important. Obedience. Love the Lord your God will ALL your heart, soul, mind, and spirit. All.
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