“…BUT ONE THING IS NEEDFUL…”

“…BUT ONE THING IS NEEDFUL…”

Luke 10:38-42

In this brief conversation, something is said about Martha that is typical of all of us. “…but Martha was distracted…” (vs. 40) (NKJV)

We are like Martha much more than we are like Mary in our lives. We become concerned about things which do not help us, but rather distract us from what is really needful.

Jesus mentioned something to her that we need to have said to us and it really needs to be stressed because of its effect upon our need of salvation.

“…Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and troubled about many things…” (vs. 41)

Needs such as jobs, careers, school, growing up, family, health, retirement, etc. is…however, all of these should be subordinate to what is really needful. For my salary amount will not matter one day. My level of schooling will not matter. Whether I taught my son or daughter to fish or how well I maintained a good cholesterol level…or anything else you want to put into this scenario; none of them will matter one day. Why?

Because we all know that ‘but one thing is needful’ don’t we? We are concerned about things that will one day pass away. One day we won’t regret the choice of schools, jobs, or not allowing a child to experience a certain activity. However, if our greatest need is not addressed, we will regret it. 

Solomon wrote of this in Eccl. 12:13-14

“…fear GOD and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For GOD will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” 

Search your own soul and answer:

 —What have you been spending your time and efforts on?

—Have you lost focus of what matters?

—Are you giving attention to the ONE THING that is needful?

 I think of the words of James and ask you to consider them as well (James 4:14)

“…What is your life? For ye are a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away”

.Man’s greatest need in this life is to prepare for the next life — hence he needs to understand why he needs to depart this life prepared for the next life. As Solomon stated, GOD will, “…bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”

When I reflect on my own life and where I would be today if not for someone taking the time to teach me of what was needful — to seek out the way that leadeth to life eternal…I want to do for you what others have done for me; persuade you to do as the apostle Paul persuaded those of his day. 

(Eph. 5:15-17) – “Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is”.

I plead with you to give thought to where you will be in eternity. Are you prepared? That is all that matters. Ask yourself this one thing…is the reason you give today for having never made preparation, sound justifiable on the Day of Judgment?

 James 4:17 – “Therefore to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin”.

Think of why you have not made preparation…If you don’t do so now, that is all you will think about then…

When your time on earth is over, it is all that will matter. Did you prepare to meet thy GOD?

If you know you need to obey the gospel, yet you have not done it, you have sinned (James 4:17). Do you believe GOD? He has provided a way whereby you can receive forgiveness for your sins—Jesus, (John 14:6). Jesus died for you for this reason—John 3:16). He has commanded all men everywhere to repent of their sins (Acts 17:30); to confess Jesus as the Son of GOD (Acts 8:37); and to be baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38). 

This is your response to the grace of GOD. It is so easy if you are willing to trust in His words, “seek ye first the kingdom of GOD and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”.

Only by being reconciled to GOD, can you be truly happy. What is your life?

copyright 2017

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The lingering after-effects of sin...

During the time of the Conquest of Canaan, the two and one-half tribes which settled east of the Jordan built an altar for a memorial so that they would have a portion in Israel.  The nine and one-half tribes falsely accused them of making this altar for idol worship.
They made the statement, "Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, FROM WHICH WE ARE NOT CLEANSED UNTIL THIS DAY..." (Joshua 22:17).
This "iniquity" of Peor was a sin that had been committed many, many years earlier (see Numbers 25:1-3 -  "And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.   And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.  And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.")
It was this sin that the statement was made years later, "FROM WHICH WE ARE NOT CLEANSED UNTIL THIS DAY". 
The lingering after-effects of sin committed!  The fornication that was learned; the pleasures of sin for a season; their eyes opened to the lewd, lustful behavior of the Moabite women.
So it was with Adam and Eve, when their "eyes were opened" (Genesis 3:7). 
We are told of the church at Pergamos, "But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication" (Revelation 2:14).
The statement "from which we are not cleansed until this day" implies of necessity that fornication, such as was learned in the iniquity at Peor was still being committed by some of the Israelites.
Idols of the heart!  They plagued the children of Israel all their existence!  They gave lip service to Jehovah, but their heart was far from Him.  (see Deuteronomy 12:8; Judges 17:6; 21:25; Jeremiah 13:10; 16:12; 18:12) 
Doing what was right in their own eyes; not as God commanded them!
This is still a problem within the Lord's church; lip service because of idols in one's heart.  Many are "not cleansed even to the present" but claim to be "of Christ". Let us remember the admonitions of the apostle Paul:
Galatians 6:7 - "Be not deceived, God is not mocked; whatsoever you sow, you will reap."
Colossians 3:1-3 - "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.   Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God."

Colossians 3:5-6 - "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience...".

10/10/2017
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"BUT HE LIED..."

"I also am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’” BUT HE LIED TO HIM." ~ 1 Kings 13:18

- CAN EVERY PERSON IN A PULPIT, CLAIMING TO HAVE A MESSAGE FROM GOD BE TRUSTED? 

- CAN THEY DECEIVE YOU? 

- DID IT EVER HAPPEN? 

- CAN IT STILL HAPPEN? 

- CAN A MAN "OF GOD" LIE IN PREACHING?

Consider the following two accounts: 

Jeremiah 29:31-32 - “Send to all the exiles, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite, 'Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, although I did not send him, and he has made you trust in a lie,' therefore thus says the Lord, 'Behold, I am about to punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants; he will not have anyone living among this people, and he will not see the good that I am about to do to My people,' declares the Lord, 'because he has preached rebellion against the Lord'.” 

Ezekiel 13:8-9 - Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “Because you have spoken falsehood and seen a lie, therefore behold, I am against you,” declares the Lord God. “So My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will have no place in the council of My people, nor will they be written down in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel, that you may know that I am the Lord God.

Were lies uttered? Were those who uttered lies, prophets? YES, but because of their lies, they were FALSE prophets!

Did Jesus acknowledge the possibility of false prophets? “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves." ~ Matt. 7:15 

Did John? "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but TEST the spirits to see whether they are from God, BECAUSE many false prophets have gone out into the world." ~ 1 John 4:1

Take notice of WHY John said to TEST ALL preaching to what the Bible declares, for UNINSPIRED men can cleverly distort, twist, and pervert scripture, just as Satan did when tempting Jesus (Matt. 4).

Remember the words "BUT HE LIED..." ~ one prophet lying to another ~

This young prophet KNEW that God had told him (1 Kings 13:9); yet listened to an old prophet, who told him to do the very thing that God commanded him NOT to do.

How serious is this?

Consider another area whereby the seriousness of the message is most relevant: SALVATION

A question repeatedly asked in the Bible is: "What must I do to be saved?"

What did an INSPIRED person preach?

~ Jews - Acts 2:37-38 - hear, believe, repent, be baptized
~ Jews - Acts 3:19 - hear, believe, repent, be converted
~ The Samaritans - Acts 8:5-13 - believe, be baptized
~ The eunuch - Acts 8:35-39 - hear, confess his faith, be baptized
~ Saul of Tarsus - Acts 9; 22; 26 - hear, believe, repent, confess his faith, be baptized
~ Cornelius - Acts 10 & 11 - hear, believe, repent, confess his faith, be baptized
~ Lydia - Acts 16:13-15 - hear, believe, repent, be baptized
~ The Jailer - Acts 16:25-34 - hear, believe, repent, be baptized
~ The Corinthians - Acts 18:8 - hear, believe, be baptized

What answer does an UNINSPIRED person preach? 

~ Pray the sinner's prayer ~ "BUT HE LIED..."
~ Confess your sins ~ "BUT HE LIED..."
~ Baptism is an outward sign of an inward grace ~ "BUT HE LIED..."

When you wanted to be saved from your sins, were you told by an UNINSPIRED preacher to do things different from what God said by an INSPIRED preacher? 

Remember these three words from the story of the old prophet and the young prophet:

"BUT HE LIED..." 1 Kings 13:18

10/10/2017
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