“and she (Martha) had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was encumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou, not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, ” Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things, but only one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:39 – 42
“Oh come and taste and see that The Lord is good” Psalm 34:8
In the first Vida of this series we discussed the “fallout” of what happened when man chose to disobey God. The following is a portion of that account. “And the eyes of them were both opened (after eating the forbidden fruit) and they knew they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.” They became self conscience because insecurity was the result of the sin. It is my opinion prior to the sin that God’s glory clothed them. What that felt like we will never know, but it must have been amazing. Therefore when they sinned, God’s glory departed from them. That feeling would be an indescribable void, but the best picture I have is the after effects of a tornado or a hurricane. The devastation was unmeasurable. They were naked on all three levels, spiritually, emotionally and physically. What they felt on the physical level they felt on the other two levels as well – totally exposed and helpless.
“And they heard the voice of The Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves (shame, fear, guilt, insecurity, – the joys of knowing evil) … And The Lord God called unto them saying where art thou… And he said, I heard thy voice, …and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” Genesis 3:7- 10. I’m sure God’s voice did not sound any different than all the others days when it was a welcoming sound. Is it not interesting how OUR perception of God changes when sin is involved?
There are not too many verses sadder than “… I heard your voice and hide myself.” What did satan tell them for them to risk so much and disobey God? “… your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3: 5). He told the truth sort of, but he spun it in such a way that he made it sound as if they were lacking something. As if God was holding out on them. Their eyes were opened, but it was not a good thing. Satan knew that they had no concept of evil having dwelt solely in righteousness. He beguiled them and they bought into it because he was able to defame God’s character. Like Jesus said, ” a little leaven (sin) leavens the whole bread (spirit).” They considered the lie instead of rejecting it and that caused the separation, and the willingness to disobey. It only takes a crack in the armor for the arrow of sin to find its way. We were never meant to know evil. It is a perversion to our spirit, soul and body. We were only created to know righteousness and not evil. Furthermore evil is not what we think it is. We think of it being a hideous deed. It is! But before it’s a deed, way before there has been a separation between God’s Spirit and mine. What God, and even satan consider as evil, is the separation that exists between me and God. For now sin has free reign from thoughts, to lusts, to ultimately action, it finds its way out.
Not much has changed from then till now. Satan still spins a bad thing making it sound good. Knowing that we have no idea of the consequences we are about to reap. Instead of listening to God’s Word, our shield, we buy into the lie/ temptation because our sin nature can justify anything, even defaming God. In two devotions past when we started this series, we dealt with how “materialism” has become the “god of happiness and security.” In rejecting God’s claim of love over our life, the void has to be filled with something and materialism makes a great trap. However this trap is only for some personalities, not all.
There are many traps or lusts to entice each and every soul. Next week we will discuss the “Martha Complex.” A definite trap for all the Martha’s.
Father God,
Thank you for this study, and for making me aware of what makes me whole and heals me. I now understand how the enemy spins a temptation and how because of my deficit it appeals to me. However my security is in your love not in trying to fulfill my own needs. Help me to keep my devotions regular so that I am renewed by your Spirit. Thank you and Amen.
Move Forward In His Grace – Arthur