Commentary: His Permanent Address

His Permanent Address

(Originally published: Thursday, August 07, 2008)

A Synonym is one of two or more words in the same language which have
the same or very nearly the same meaning. The meanings are so similar
the words are often used interchangeably. The challenge is to know
which of these words to use when you are translating. For example,
there is no word in Spanish for righteousness. Many use the Spanish
word for Justice: Justicia. But, justice and righteousness do not have
the same definition, they are not synonyms.

A similar thing happens with the word dwell in the Bible. Sometimes it
means to live permanently and sometime it means temporarily. The
latter is the case of John 1:14. The word used in the Greek is Skenoo,
which means: to have or fix one's tabernacle, abide (or live) in a
tabernacle (or tent), tabernacle; to dwell. Let us read John 1:14,

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we
beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)
full of grace and truth.

Christ dwelling with us as the Son of Man was temporary. When Christ
was on earth He "pitched His tent" among us. Tents are for temporary
dwellings. In contrast, other words are used regarding His dwelling in
us. The first one is Enoikeo which means to dwell in; to dwell
metaphorically in one and influence him (for good). Because is for
good, it gives an impression of permanency. Two verses use this
example,

2Ti 1:14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the
Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye
are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in
them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my
people.

The second one is Katoikeo, which means to dwell in, inhabit as in,
God is said to dwell in the temple, i.e. to be always present for
worshippers. Also to dwell, settle; used metaphorically to refer to
when divine powers, influences, etc., are said to dwell in his soul,
to pervade, prompt, govern it. Examples of this use are found in,

Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being
rooted and grounded in love,
Col 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

The word kaitokeo gives an implication of something more lasting than
just pitching a tent. The third word is oikeo which simply means to
dwell in. However, there is no sign of short term stay or pitching a
tent. Again there is a sense of permanence in the use of this verse.
Let us read

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that
the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of
Christ, he is none of his.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but
the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead
dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also
quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

The last word is naos {nah-os'} – (our word for "IN") which is derived
from naio which also means to dwell. It was used when referring to the
temple at Jerusalem, but only of the sacred edifice (or sanctuary)
itself, consisting of the Holy place and the Holy of Holies. This word
is the one used for referring to Jesus in the Sanctuary. Let us read,

1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy
Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

No reference in this verse of anything temporary. Our bodies are
supposed to be Jesus' permanent address. As we can see all these words
were translated as dwelling. However, skenoo is temporary dwelling.

In conclusion, when the Bible talks about Christ dwelling among us as
a man, it is temporary living. However, when it talks about Christ
dwelling in us it is permanent living. Both dwellings are because God
loves us. God wants to permanently dwell in us. He does not want to
temporarily dwell among us. His incarnation limited the how and amount
of time He could dwell with us. But, through the Holy Spirit he can
dwell in us forever. Yes, we can evict Him and foreclose our property,
in which case the devil will repurchase it, and it will be destroyed
when the devil is destroyed. Or we can let God abide in us, and
eventually live eternally with Him.

Ps. Reformation can only occur when the Holy Spirit dwells in us. It
is He doing the reformation.


--
Raul Diaz
www.wolfsoath.com

His Permanent Address

His Permanent Address

(Originally published: Thursday, August 07, 2008)

A Synonym is one of two or more words in the same language which have the same or very nearly the same meaning. The meanings are so similar the words are often used interchangeably. The challenge is to know which of these words to use when you are translating. For example, there is no word in Spanish for righteousness. Many use the Spanish word for Justice: Justicia. But, justice and righteousness do not have the same definition, they are not synonyms.

A similar thing happens with the word dwell in the Bible. Sometimes it means to live permanently and sometime it means temporarily. The latter is the case of John 1:14. The word used in the Greek is Skenoo, which means: to have or fix one's tabernacle, abide (or live) in a tabernacle (or tent), tabernacle; to dwell. Let us read John 1:14,

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Christ dwelling with us as the Son of Man was temporary. When Christ was on earth He “pitched His tent” among us. Tents are for temporary dwellings. In contrast, other words are used regarding His dwelling in us. The first one is Enoikeo which means to dwell in; to dwell metaphorically in one and influence him (for good). Because is for good, it gives an impression of permanency. Two verses use this example,

2Ti 1:14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

The second one is Katoikeo, which means to dwell in, inhabit as in, God is said to dwell in the temple, i.e. to be always present for worshippers. Also to dwell, settle; used metaphorically to refer to when divine powers, influences, etc., are said to dwell in his soul, to pervade, prompt, govern it. Examples of this use are found in,

Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

Col 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

The word kaitokeo gives an implication of something more lasting than just pitching a tent. The third word is oikeo which simply means to dwell in. However, there is no sign of short term stay or pitching a tent. Again there is a sense of permanence in the use of this verse. Let us read

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

The last word is naos {nah-os'} – (our word for “IN”) which is derived from naio which also means to dwell. It was used when referring to the temple at Jerusalem, but only of the sacred edifice (or sanctuary) itself, consisting of the Holy place and the Holy of Holies. This word is the one used for referring to Jesus in the Sanctuary. Let us read,

1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

No reference in this verse of anything temporary. Our bodies are supposed to be Jesus’ permanent address. As we can see all these words were translated as dwelling. However, skenoo is temporary dwelling.

In conclusion, when the Bible talks about Christ dwelling among us as a man, it is temporary living. However, when it talks about Christ dwelling in us it is permanent living. Both dwellings are because God loves us. God wants to permanently dwell in us. He does not want to temporarily dwell among us. His incarnation limited the how and amount of time He could dwell with us. But, through the Holy Spirit he can dwell in us forever. Yes, we can evict Him and foreclose our property, in which case the devil will repurchase it, and it will be destroyed when the devil is destroyed. Or we can let God abide in us, and eventually live eternally with Him.

Ps.  Reformation can only occur when the Holy Spirit dwells in us.  It is He doing the reformation.

Commentary: Discernment Between Truth and False

Discernment Between Truth and False

How do you know a dollar bill is a counterfeit? There are many
websites now, including the Secret Service's website, with that
information. And, with the advancement in technology the creation of
paper money, is more complicated and difficult for others to
duplicate. In the past, technology was not as advanced as it is today
in both areas of spreading information and making paper money. Those
who made money counterfeits had an easier time creating counterfeits.
And, most of the public was not informed as to what does counterfeit
money looked like.

After the American Civil War, money counterfeit increased. This
forced the government to devise a way to make sure counterfeit money
was not used. An agency was created to enforce the Laws that
prohibited counterfeiting money: the Secret Service. Now they are
better known for protecting the president and dignitaries, but they
still keep track of paper money.

How do these agents train to distinguish - or discern between - false
money from real money? They spend most of their training studying how
real money looks. If they see something out of place, they will know.
Just a cursory look would alert them that certain currency is not
real. Again, they do not focus on studying counterfeit currency.
Their focus is on real currency.

How can we discern between true revival and a counterfeit revival?
The answer to that is to study the true revival. Learn it so well
that anything out of place is glaringly evident. Now, revivals are
spiritual, and spiritual things are spiritually discerned (1
Corinthians 2: 14). False revivals will look real, except to those
who are truly spiritual. Our enemy is a clever foe. His schemes are
so subtle and sophisticated, that even the very elect would be
deceived if it were possible (Matthew 24: 24). So, it is only the
Holy Spirit that keeps us from being deceived.
One of the gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to converted people is
discernment, which in simple language means the ability to recognize
the truth in difficult situations. A detective can recognize an
incriminating clue in a murder case. That's discernment, something
most of us don't have.

The apostle John gives us a clue to recognize the difference between a
false prophet and a true one, between a false christ and the true
Christ: He says, "test the spirits, whether they are of God; because
many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1). In
other words, don't let yourself get fooled! You don't want to end up
taking the mark of the beast! John's clue? "Every spirit that does
not confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God. And
this is the spirit of the Antichrist" (vs. 3).

Two Christs are clearly distinguished in Revelation 13:8—the power
behind the Beast, and the Lamb. The latter is the term Inspiration
uses to designate Christ as the Crucified One, "the Lamb slain." Thus
the true Christ is the Christ of the cross; the christ of Babylon the
one who spurned the cross. It follows that the true Christ is the One
who will draw men if He is lifted up as the Crucified One (John 34,
33; Gal. 3:1). The false christ is the "radiant," winsome, lovable,
kindly one who draws all men literally (except those written in the
Lamb's Book of Life) when he is lifted up, but not signifying what
death he should die. In other words, the power of this "christ" to
appeal is in his winsome lovable ways to make people happy, relaxed,
integrated, and to give them an "abundant life," apart from the appeal
of the cross. The false christ will have absolutely everything the
true Christ has, power to heal the sick, cast out demons, cleanse
lepers, set people free from anxieties, worries, etc., feed thousands,
smile (constantly), a radiant personality, everything absolutely
except the nail prints of the cross.

In the Epistle to the Philippians, Paul describes how low Christ went
in order to save us.

Philippians 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him
the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled
himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Paul states this not only to uplift Christ, but to encourage us to be
like Christ,

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Phillipians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery
to be equal with God:

Paul says in verse 3 how this would look like, "…in lowliness of mind
let each esteem other better than themselves." John agrees with Paul.
He states in 1 John 3: 16,

1John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down
his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Christ said He came not to be served, but to serve others. A revival
in which men glorify themselves is not a true revival. This echoes
Ellen White's thought on this subject. She says,

"In many of the revivals which have occurred during the last half
century, the same influences have been at work, to a greater or less
degree, that will be manifest in the more extensive movements of the
future. There is an emotional excitement, a mingling of the true with
the false, that is well adapted to mislead. Yet none need be deceived.
In the light of God's word it is not difficult to determine the nature
of these movements. Wherever men neglect the testimony of the Bible,
turning away from those plain, soul-testing truths which require
self-denial and renunciation of the world, there we may be sure that
God's blessing is not bestowed."—Ellen G. White, The Great
Controversy, p. 464.

The key is "self-denial and renunciation of the world." When asked,
"What is justification by faith," Ellen White answered, "What is
justification by faith? It is the work of God in laying the glory of
man in the dust, and doing for man that which it is not in his power
to do for himself" (TM 456.3). In true revival man will uplift
Christ, abhor himself and repent in dust in ashes (Job 42: 6).






--
Raul Diaz
www.wolfsoath.com

The Gospel of Nitrogen

The Gospel of Nitrogen

Everything is made of molecules.  Some are small and others bigger.  Some are simple and others complex.  Proteins are very large and complex molecules.  Proteins are made out of smaller molecules called amino acids, and Nitrogen is an important part of all amino acids.  However, nitrogen as a part of an amino acid is an atom.  All molecules are made out of atoms. Other molecules that contain nitrogen are all nucleic acids (which provide energy and genetic information), and most plant pigments involved in photosynthesis.  Which implies that plants need lots of nitrogen.    The most common component of plant fertilizers is in fact one of two forms of nitrogen - nitrate (NO₃^-) or ammonium (NH₄⁺) ions—both usable forms of nitrogen for plants.

With a concentration of about 78 percent, nitrogen gas comprises the largest component of earth's atmosphere. It has at least a million times more nitrogen than found in all living systems combined. The bad news is that all of this atmospheric nitrogen consists of molecules of N₂ — that is, two atoms of nitrogen bound tightly together by, what chemists call, three strong covalent bonds.  Unfortunately, it takes a great deal of energy to break the triple bond.  Because plants can't use molecular nitrogen (N₂), it has to be transformed into one of the two absorbable ions.  When you break the bonds between the molecular nitrogen, each nitrogen ion is open to attract and attach other ions and form other molecules.  So, before the nitrogen can bond with other elements like oxygen or hydrogen it has to become an ion itself.  Let us try to reiterate: the two nitrogen atoms are attracted to each other, very strongly.  Once bonded the nitrogen atoms cannot bond with anything else, unless that bond is broken.  When the bond is broken the nitrogen will have open spaces to bond with other ions.  Now, notice that the symbol for nitrate has a negative sign and the ammonium has a positive sign, this is why they are called ions and not molecules.  Both nitrate and ammonium have open spaces to bond as well. 

Back to nitrogen: it requires a lot of energy to break nitrogen's triple bond.  In His wisdom the Creator provided several ways to convert atmospheric molecular nitrogen into usable forms that will dissolve in water so that plant roots can absorb it. The immense energy of lightning easily breaks nitrogen triple bond, turning it into nitrates and washing it down in the rain of a good thunderstorm. Have you noticed how green your lawn is after a noise one rolls through? Even more important, many types of bacteria convert nitrogen from one form to another. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen to the more plant-friendly ammonium ion (though it is toxic in large concentrations).  Other bacteria, called ammonifying bacteria, also create the ammonium ion, but they do it by decomposition of plant and animal matter. Check out the smell of your compost pile. It reeks of ammonia. Fortunately, another family of bacteria called nitrifying bacteria transforms the ammonium ion to the safer nitrates.  (As you might guess, the cycles are actually more complicated than what I am describing.) 

It is not uncommon for atoms in a "multi – atom" molecule to behave differently than when they were a mono-atom molecule.  As previously mentioned, the bonds in molecules of compounds are very strong.  The atoms that compose the molecules now yield to one another.  They work as one.  Whether, in ammonium or nitrate, nitrogen no longer behaves as nitrogen.  For example, water is not flammable.  But, the two elements that compose water – hydrogen and oxygen - on their own are very flammable. 

This has a spiritual application.  Let us go step by step.  Before conversion the disciples could not really bond.  Before the crucifixion they were fighting for supremacy.  That ceased after the 10 days in the upper chamber.   Luke described what happened then, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place" (acts 2: 1).  Ellen White describes the events in the following quote,

"After Christ's ascension, His disciples--men of varied talents and capabilities--assembled in an upper chamber to pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit. In this room 'all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication.' They made thorough work of repentance by confessing their own sins. Upon them was laid no burden to confess one another's sins. Settling all differences and alienations, they were of one accord, and prayed with unity of purpose for ten days, at the end of which time 'they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.'  {7MR 94.4} 

There was a definite change in them.  This was reflected in all their followers:  "Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all" (Acts 4:32, 33, NKJV). 

What happened?  When the Holy Spirit began working in them, their bond to Sin or self is broken.  It takes the powerful grace of God to do this.  Now, they have open space to bond with Christ and with each other.  Christ could not use the disciples in their natural state.  They had to become spiritual ions to be able to bond with other spiritual ions. 

So, the disciples laid aside all their personal ambitions.  Now instead of fighting, they were convicted by the Holy Spirit to die to self.  The words of Paul became a reality in them: "…be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind," and to not think more highly than he ought to think of himself (Romans 12: 2 – 3).  God is waiting for us to let the Holy Spirit do the same work in us.

Raul Diaz

Endnote: Portions of this commentary were taken from David A. Steen's book "God of Wonders" page 235.

Raul Diaz
www.wolfsoath.com

The Gospel of Nitrogen

The Gospel of Nitrogen

Everything is made of molecules.  Some are small and others bigger.  Some are simple and others complex.  Proteins are very large and complex molecules.  Proteins are made out of smaller molecules called amino acids, and Nitrogen is an important part of all amino acids.  However, nitrogen as a part of an amino acid is an atom.  All molecules are made out of atoms. Other molecules that contain nitrogen are all nucleic acids (which provide energy and genetic information), and most plant pigments involved in photosynthesis.  Which implies that plants need lots of nitrogen.    The most common component of plant fertilizers is in fact one of two forms of nitrogen - nitrate (NO₃^-) or ammonium (NH₄⁺) ions—both usable forms of nitrogen for plants.

With a concentration of about 78 percent, nitrogen gas comprises the largest component of earth's atmosphere. It has at least a million times more nitrogen than found in all living systems combined. The bad news is that all of this atmospheric nitrogen consists of molecules of N₂ — that is, two atoms of nitrogen bound tightly together by, what chemists call, three strong covalent bonds.  Unfortunately, it takes a great deal of energy to break the triple bond.  Because plants can't use molecular nitrogen (N₂), it has to be transformed into one of the two absorbable ions.  When you break the bonds between the molecular nitrogen, each nitrogen ion is open to attract and attach other ions and form other molecules.  So, before the nitrogen can bond with other elements like oxygen or hydrogen it has to become an ion itself.  Let us try to reiterate: the two nitrogen atoms are attracted to each other, very strongly.  Once bonded the nitrogen atoms cannot bond with anything else, unless that bond is broken.  When the bond is broken the nitrogen will have open spaces to bond with other ions.  Now, notice that the symbol for nitrate has a negative sign and the ammonium has a positive sign, this is why they are called ions and not molecules.  Both nitrate and ammonium have open spaces to bond as well. 

Back to nitrogen: it requires a lot of energy to break nitrogen’s triple bond.  In His wisdom the Creator provided several ways to convert atmospheric molecular nitrogen into usable forms that will dissolve in water so that plant roots can absorb it. The immense energy of lightning easily breaks nitrogen triple bond, turning it into nitrates and washing it down in the rain of a good thunderstorm. Have you noticed how green your lawn is after a noise one rolls through? Even more important, many types of bacteria convert nitrogen from one form to another. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen to the more plant-friendly ammonium ion (though it is toxic in large concentrations).  Other bacteria, called ammonifying bacteria, also create the ammonium ion, but they do it by decomposition of plant and animal matter. Check out the smell of your compost pile. It reeks of ammonia. Fortunately, another family of bacteria called nitrifying bacteria transforms the ammonium ion to the safer nitrates.  (As you might guess, the cycles are actually more complicated than what I am describing.) 

It is not uncommon for atoms in a “multi – atom” molecule to behave differently than when they were a mono-atom molecule.  As previously mentioned, the bonds in molecules of compounds are very strong.  The atoms that compose the molecules now yield to one another.  They work as one.  Whether, in ammonium or nitrate, nitrogen no longer behaves as nitrogen.  For example, water is not flammable.  But, the two elements that compose water – hydrogen and oxygen - on their own are very flammable. 

This has a spiritual application.  Let us go step by step.  Before conversion the disciples could not really bond.  Before the crucifixion they were fighting for supremacy.  That ceased after the 10 days in the upper chamber.   Luke described what happened then, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place” (acts 2: 1).  Ellen White describes the events in the following quote,

“After Christ's ascension, His disciples--men of varied talents and capabilities--assembled in an upper chamber to pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit. In this room 'all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication.' They made thorough work of repentance by confessing their own sins. Upon them was laid no burden to confess one another's sins. Settling all differences and alienations, they were of one accord, and prayed with unity of purpose for ten days, at the end of which time 'they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.'  {7MR 94.4} 

There was a definite change in them.  This was reflected in all their followers:  “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:32, 33, NKJV). 

What happened?  When the Holy Spirit began working in them, their bond to Sin or self is broken.  It takes the powerful grace of God to do this.  Now, they have open space to bond with Christ and with each other.  Christ could not use the disciples in their natural state.  They had to become spiritual ions to be able to bond with other spiritual ions. 

So, the disciples laid aside all their personal ambitions.  Now instead of fighting, they were convicted by the Holy Spirit to die to self.  The words of Paul became a reality in them: “…be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,” and to not think more highly than he ought to think of himself (Romans 12: 2 – 3).  God is waiting for us to let the Holy Spirit do the same work in us.

Raul Diaz

Endnote: Portions of this commentary were taken from David A. Steen’s book “God of Wonders” page 235.

"What came first: faith or obedience?"

What came first: faith or obedience?

(First published in Thursday, January 31, 2008)

 

Years ago somebody posed a question that baffled many. What came first the chicken or the eggs? Of course, to those who do not believe in Biblical account of creation, it poses a dilemma since the one comes from the other. This creates a never ending cycle that cannot be stopped, much less started. For those of us who believe that the account of Genesis is real and true, we know the chicken came first.  Similarly we can ask: "What comes first: obedience or faith?" The Bible again answers that for us.

 

Obey in the Greek is hupakouo, a complex word of made of two terms hupo – which means by or from - and akouo – which from which we derive the English word acoustics. To obey means to listen. In this sense faith comes from obedience for we read in Romans 10: 17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Now, Hearing of course is one of the traditional five senses. It is the ability to perceive sound by detecting vibrations via an organ such as the ear. The issue is that the sounds have meaning. In the case of humans, sounds may form words, which also have meaning. So, hearing partly becomes the ability to hear words and understand their meaning.

 

When we hear God's Word we respond by either believing it or we do not. When we choose to believe it, it is faith. There is no need to touch, see, smell, or taste. There is no need to understand completely what God is telling us. The issue is: do you believe what you are told?

 

Mary the mother of Jesus is a perfect example. When Mary – the mother of Jesus – was told about the virginal conception: "And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS," Luke 1: 31. What the angel posed was difficult for Mary to grasp. She wanted to understand more. She asked "the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" Luke 1:34.

 

Knowing what we know today, we would have asked the angel more questions, "Is the Holy Spirit going to divinely inseminate the embryo in me or is He going to actually impregnate me? Will the child have my genes also?" The angel did not answer this question directly. His answer was, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1: 35.) And He added the fact that her older cousin Elisabeth – who was barren - was pregnant. The angel finished his discourse by saying, "for with God nothing shall be impossible."

 

Mary probably thought that certainly if God could do that which was impossible to men, open Elisabeth's womb – a married barren woman - He could do even the more impossible. She believed that it would not be impossible to God to do as the Angel said with a woman that has never been with a man. Mary heard the words of the angel and chose to believe them. She replied, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word" Luke 1:38.

 

When Mary Magdalene sat at the feet of Jesus she was obeying – she was hearing and listening. Martha on the contrary was just doing.  The woman at the well obeyed Jesus.  She heard the words of Jesus and went back in the town to tell others. That was an act of faith.

 

Do you lack faith? It says in Romans 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."  Mary Magdalene sat at the feet of Jesus to hear every Word He said. Martha worked around the house worried and troubled. James says in his epistle that he shows his faith by his work (James 2:18). Mary's sitting at the feet of Jesus was a work of Faith. Martha's busy work was not of faith, therefore it was sin "for whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14:23). Jesus adds to Martha, "But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10: 42). From these words we could conclude that Mary pleased Jesus but was disappointed with Martha. Why was Jesus pleased with Mary? Because, she had faith that came from hearing, and hearing by the Word of God made flesh. Unlike Martha, Mary chose the good part. Martha displeased Christ because of her lack of faith.

 

How about you? Are you choosing the good part? Are you hearing the Word of God?  Are you sitting at the feet of Jesus? If you are not, maybe it is time you stop and sit at the feet of Jesus and hear what he has to say.

--
Raul Diaz
www.wolfsoath.com