Mary and Martha (women of the Bible)

 

TRANSCRIPT

 

Mary and Martha.

These two ladies were instrumental in carrying a message to all women throughout generations to come, yet they never knew just how important their life messages would be.

Let’s get a bit of background on these ladies.

Mary and Martha were sisters and Lazarus is believed to have been their brother. The three of them lived together and were friends of Jesus.

The definitions of their names alone give significant insight into what these 2 women were like.

Though sisters, they were vastly different in their opinions and ways, and the Lord took their differences at stride while loving each of them in terms they could appreciate.

It may be first of all important to note that Jewish tradition did not allow for the training of women in leadership or as a disciple. Jesus broke this mold in His relationships with women, since it is evident that Mary Magdelene, Joanna, and Susana and others were among his closest followers.

Mary means “loved by Yahweh” and Martha means “lady”.

We can tell in many of the passages of scripture that Jesus dearly loved Mary as she seemed to touch his heart and reach him where it really mattered. Martha was a lady by the true definition. She was of great service to her master and to others. She followed protocol, was proper, and knew how to serve her fellow man..

One of the main stories of Mary and Martha prove just how their differences were frustrating to Martha. Martha was irritated with Mary for not helping her serve Jesus. We find the story of this in Luke 10:38-42.

Mary seemed to have no true sense of traditional women’s roles, since rather than helping her sister Martha serve during one of Jesus’ visits, she decides to sit at his feet instead and be taught the Word directly from the master. I imagine Mary saw herself as a pupil of the Master, and she sat in anticipation under the instruction and tutelage of her mentor. Although Mary probably helped around the house, she obviously didn’t bother with homemaking and serving duties when Jesus was around. Her service to Jesus was of a different nature.

We find that when Martha fusses about Mary not helping her out in the kitchen and asks Jesus to make Mary help her, Jesus gently guides Martha into seeing that Mary was doing no wrong and that in fact, her service to the Lord in sitting at his feet was just as important, if not more so, than the busy, practical serving Martha was doing. Martha was tempted to feel somewhat superior to Mary as she resented her for not doing what she felt was the greater duty. Jesus was quick to set Martha straight and show her that there was no need for a judgmental attitude. There was room in the Kingdom of God for different personality types, and Jesus loved the free spirited, non-traditional Mary as much as he loved the stricter, protocol-keeping Martha, and Martha had no right to judge Mary’s character.

It was also evident in other scripture that Mary had been known to display spiritual sensitivity to Jesus’ needs, while Martha always served in the background. (Luke 12:4) Mary oftentimes received criticism for outward displays of affection and emotion, as in the time she poured ointment over Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. The disciples complained that the ointment could have been saved for the poor. However, Jesus rebuked them explaining that she understood his purpose on earth which was to die for our sins, and because of this she grieved for him and anointed him before time.

Mary’s whole demeanor toward Jesus was that of worship.

Jesus was and still is looking for those who will worship him in spirit and in truth. Mary was a true worshipper.

Martha was a true servant and was consistent, stable, and always busy. Martha was always busy preparing and making things happen behind the scenes. Without Martha nothing was bound to be the same. She was needed in her personality and all that she was to the Lord’s world, but her one fault was that she didn’t realize just how needed her despised sister Mary was. I’m sure she loved her sister…but probably just didn’t understand her ways, and may have been irritated by what seemed to be her passivity.

The story of Martha and Mary gives us hope for the future.

How shall we live for God? Will we be of service to him by staying busy with the practical aspects of ministry or religion?

Or will we be of service to him by sitting at His feet as He teaches our hearts His ever-present words of righteousness and truth? Will we worship Him with our attention and affection?

How will we choose to serve our Lord?

Let’s study the women of the Bible!

When studying the women of the bible, who do you typically think of?

Most of us think of Sarah, Rebecca, Miriam, or Deborah the prophetess. Some of us think of Lydia or the Proverbs 31 woman, or even Mary Magdalene.

What makes these women so very special?

What makes them special is that they are just like YOU – a reflection of God’s glory. It’s important that you understand your position as a beautiful woman of God, reflecting the glory of our Savior in all that you do.

In many ways, these special women of the old and new testament are very much like you and me in that they had similar skills and duties. They were wives, mothers, daughters, friends, and had a special role to play within their homes and communities.

Why is the WOMAN so special?

Well, she was created in the image of God. Just like man, she too was created to look like her Creator. We are evidently a reflection of God’s glory.

Every time we perform a good deed of kindness, or reach out to help a friend, show a little patience, or go above and beyond the call of duty to help someone else, we are showing the character of God in our lives and others are able to see the Lord Jesus living and breathing through us. Now, that’s awesome news! You – awesome, beautiful woman, shine the glory of God through your life.

There are several things Elizabeth George says in her book “Walking with the women of the Bible”, page5, that apply to every woman who wants to reflect God’s glory in her life. These are the “R’s” you should never forget. Grab a pen and paper and commit these to memory and application in your life.

“Resolve never to criticize or downgrade yourself, but instead

Rejoice that you are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Resolve to walk by faith paths you may not understand and

Rejoice in the promise of His nearness as He directs your way.

Resolve to live as a child of God through His Son, Jesus Christ, and

Rejoice that as God’s child your name is written in heaven.

Resolve to commune with God daily through prayer and Bible study, and

Rejoice in His strength each day and hope in Him for tomorrow.

Resolve to reflect His glory and

Rejoice in His love!”

What are your thoughts?

The Principles of Division, Multiplication, Reciprocity, and Light

Be thinking about the questions noted in the audio.

How has God shown you “seeds” in your life?
Do you need to glean?
I believe God is preparing us to advance in His Kingdom in a new way for a new era and a new time.
This is the season, my friend, to roll up our sleeves and get serious about the study and understanding of God’s Word! We have much work to do and He is preparing us from beginning to end — starting in Genesis.

The Principle of Division- Genesis Study part 2

Scroll below to download and listen to the audio…

I’ve attached the study notes so you can read along with the audio. It’s in PDF format. If you are unable to view PDF, you can download a free PDF reader from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Download PDF Bible Study Notes Here- genesis1-2.pdf

As you listen to the audio lesson, ask yourself a few questions such as:
*What does God call in your life?
*In what ways does the principle of division effect our lives as Christians today?
*What is the Hebrew for “seas” and what could that mean for Christians today?

In the beginning…Video 1

View the video below to begin our discussion on the book of Genesis.
As you read, think about the following:
1.) What does Genesis mean?
2.) Is Genesis relevant to us today?
3.) How can we apply Genesis to our lives?

Why studying the Word of God is relevant

Well, ladies…

God is definitely at work.

Ultimately, to understand the Word is crucial to living a life of victory.
God works within systematic order…and although His grace extends to us when we don’t know the Word and are drinking of the “milk of the Word”, there comes a time and season in which He expects us to grow into newer stages of development and begin to chew the “meat of the Word”.
In other words, He’s waiting for our growth, Sisters! He’s given us all we need, all the tools– everything is laid out before us. Now all we have to do is consume it and allow His consuming Fire to consume us!
When that happens, all the impurities in our lives will come surfacing to the top.
In those shameful moments when we are revealed our pride and stubborness, we can then repent of these things and become as pure gold.
That is God’s ultimate plan — to refine us, and make us more like Him through the “washing of the water by the Word”.

So let us begin this new journey together…from the very beginning.

In the next few posts I’ll be introducing to you a new study from the book of Genesis.

t is here that we can find many truths revealed to us about foundational principles set forth in the Word.
I’ll be posting audio, and if technically possibly, I will try to post some video as well so that you can follow along more easily.

Grab your bibles, a notebook, and your spiritual cup — and be sure it’s empty! (That way you can fill it up with His word!)

Gear up for the next post, and I’ll meet you back here.

Bible Study: Numbers 11-12, Miriam and Moses

The children of Israel harbored ungratefulness in their hearts toward God’s provision for them.

Instead of being thankful, they wished they had the things of Egypt.  God brought them out of Egypt, but no matter how many miracles God performed on their behalf, the Israelites still had Egypt in them.

Listen in on this podcast episode to go into more depth about Moses, Miriam, Aaron, and the children of Israel.

The milk of the Word

Today as I was rocking my newborn to sleep, she cried and fussed and was cranky…and for a while, although I knew she was hungry, she wouldn’t drink her milk.

I’ve been nursing little Zoe since day 1 and knew that she wasn’t having a latch-on problem, but just an inability to think clearly about taking the breast at the moment because she was so tired.

IN order to calm her down, I began to sing a little lullaby that popped into my head. Looking into her eyes as I rocked her in the glider, I sang:

“Go to sleep…I know you’re sleepy. Just have a little milk and go to sleep.”

Over and over again I sung this verse to her, and as I sang, the Lord reminded me of how that as Christians, newly born again in the Body of Christ, we start off with the “milk of God’s Word”. Paul talks about this in the Epistles. When we are baby Christians, we cannot yet digest the full course meat of the Word, but we can take the milk, and that is all the nourishment we need from day to day until we are older, just like the newborn baby.

But sometimes the trials of life get to us and we become miserable and cranky, sometimes depressed. We cry and become anxious. Our Heavenly Father then precedes to rock us in the glider of His Word and feed us the “milk of His Word”. As I sang the verses, “…just have a little milk and go to sleep”, I was reminded that our Heavenly Father wants us drink from His Word and rest.

When the trials of life become too much for us to bear, we can find rest in the Word of God. Our Father will feed us and rock us into a peaceful haven of safety and rest as we cast our anxieties on Him. He does care for us, you know!

So, if you are a newbie Christian, and even if you consider yourself an “old trooper” in the Kingdom…don’t ever forget that God’s loving arms are available for a warm embrace and the milk of His word is ready for the proper nourishment we need in those delicate times.

An Easy Guide to Christianity: The Daily Walk With Christ

 

 

Please feel free to pass this e-book along to anyone you like. This e-book may not be reproduced or sold. This e-book is FREE to give away.Course Objectives:
• To provide a basic, thorough understanding of what Christianity is, according to scriptures of the Holy Bible.
• To explain how one may become a Christian
• To provide practical examples of daily living with Christ
•To bring recognition to the benefits associated with and as a result of leading a Christian life.

Intended Audience:
Unbelievers and Seekers
Newborn Christians
Mature Christians (refresher course)

 

Course Outline :

I. Who is Jesus?

II. Why we must come to Christ

III. How to come to Christ

IV. The results of not walking with Christ

V. The exceeding rewards of His kingdom

 

Foreword: (Why it’s good to start with the basics)…
Read more