Sermon nuggets week of July 21, 2008
Sermon Nuggets, Mon July 21
Theme Responding to Jesus
Verses John 12:1-2 Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.
Love by Serving
Misunderstood actions, are common aren't they? People don't always know what is in our hearts, but there are situations that occur that do reveal what is in a heart.
Ruby Seaman told of the day when a neighbor boy knocked on her door and enthusiastically invited her to join him and his classmate for a marshmallow roast. She declined, although her heart soared with pleasure to think they had wanted her company. The little friend hesitated a
moment and then got to the point; "Well do you have any marshmallows?"
There are times when our intentions get in the way of our actions. They become a testimony of what's really going on. That is something that God always sees. What is the testimony of our heart this morning? What is it that the Lord sees? This passage can be used as a reminder of the importance of self-examination as to how we might respond to Jesus.
Mary and Martha certainly were testifying the love that they had for Jesus. Martha is depicted in the Bible as the one who serves, Mary as the one who worships. Both are different expressions of love and I do not believe one is exclusive of the other. We need to worship and we need to work. Martha showed her love by serving her Lord and guests.
Mary showed her love by outward adoration and personal sacrifice from the heart of devotion, which the Lord saw, which we will discuss a bit tomorrow.
Cecily Hallack captures the prayer of Martha when she wrote in the Divine Office of the Kitchen, "Lord of the pots and pans, since I have no time to be,
A saint by doing lovely things and vigilling with Thee,
By watching in the twilight dawn, and storming Heaven's gates.
Make me a saint by getting meals and washing up the plates!"
God not only sees what we do, but our heart as well. What he sees in Martha is love. This love is shown in responding to Jesus by serving Him and His disciples and friends.
How might you serve Jesus today? Which of His friends might receive from you in love for Him?
Pastor Dale
