WEBVTT 00:00:00.840 --> 00:00:05.179 We can turn back to our reading in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 10. 00:00:06.759 --> 00:00:10.880 We're going to look at the end of this chapter where we read of Mary and Martha 00:00:10.880 --> 00:00:20.260 and how they had Jesus in their home and how they engaged with him, and especially as we see Mary engaging with him. 00:00:21.120 --> 00:00:29.660 In verse 39 it says, this is Martha, she had a sister called Mary who sat at the Lord's feet and listened. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:31.579 To his teaching. 00:00:32.340 --> 00:00:37.560 She sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 00:00:38.740 --> 00:00:43.100 Well, last Sunday we had what we called Back to Church Sunday. 00:00:43.100 --> 00:00:49.159 It was a new season beginning in terms of Sunday school resuming after the summer holidays, 00:00:49.159 --> 00:00:53.320 and many things just starting to start back after that break. 00:00:53.740 --> 00:00:58.299 And we were looking at the Gospel of Luke last Sunday morning here as well. 00:00:58.299 --> 00:00:59.919 We were in chapter 14. 00:01:01.179 --> 00:01:05.920 And Back to Church Sunday is very much about an invitation to come. 00:01:06.179 --> 00:01:08.780 To come and hear the Gospel. 00:01:08.920 --> 00:01:10.179 An invitation to come. 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:15.739 As we saw it in chapter 14, it was talking about a banquet that was prepared. 00:01:16.280 --> 00:01:17.920 It was a parable that was being told. 00:01:18.019 --> 00:01:22.799 And how invitations went out to come for everything is now ready. 00:01:22.799 --> 00:01:27.439 And that's the way we see it with church when we come to church. 00:01:27.479 --> 00:01:32.439 When we come to hear the Gospel is to come and hear about a man who has done everything for us. 00:01:32.479 --> 00:01:34.700 Who has prepared everything for us. 00:01:34.759 --> 00:01:39.280 A banquet has been prepared for us by the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:01:39.640 --> 00:01:40.539 So we are to come. 00:01:41.140 --> 00:01:43.359 But what is it that we are coming to? 00:01:44.560 --> 00:01:46.299 And why do we come? 00:01:46.299 --> 00:01:48.159 Why do we keep on coming? 00:01:48.239 --> 00:01:50.200 It's not just about coming once. 00:01:50.299 --> 00:01:52.920 But it's about keeping on coming to Jesus. 00:01:53.079 --> 00:01:56.439 And living in light of him and his ways. 00:01:57.259 --> 00:01:59.759 That's what we want to think about this morning together. 00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:01.920 Not just about coming to church. 00:02:01.979 --> 00:02:03.359 But what we're coming to. 00:02:03.459 --> 00:02:07.299 And why we need to keep coming back to it as well. 00:02:07.299 --> 00:02:13.539 Some of you will be able to remember a TV program called Jackanori. 00:02:14.280 --> 00:02:18.400 It ran from 1965 right through to 1996. 00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:20.579 Over 30 years. 00:02:21.379 --> 00:02:23.500 And what it was, as I'm sure if you remember it, 00:02:23.519 --> 00:02:27.219 it was somebody coming to share a story from a book. 00:02:27.300 --> 00:02:29.479 To read a story from a book. 00:02:30.259 --> 00:02:36.039 And it was just there to encourage people to be interested again in coming to read for themselves. 00:02:36.039 --> 00:02:41.039 To set up an interest in hearing stories and reading books themselves. 00:02:41.739 --> 00:02:43.900 You had to sit and listen. 00:02:45.139 --> 00:02:49.139 What we sang in Psalm 34 is very like that as well. 00:02:49.219 --> 00:02:51.000 Where the psalmist says in verse 11. 00:02:51.459 --> 00:02:52.399 Come hear my children. 00:02:52.620 --> 00:02:55.000 Gather round and listen to my word. 00:02:55.079 --> 00:02:57.899 There's this invitation to come and listen. 00:02:58.180 --> 00:02:59.099 And the psalmist says, 00:02:59.180 --> 00:03:03.319 And I will help you understand how you may fear the Lord. 00:03:03.319 --> 00:03:05.979 How we are to live for the Lord. 00:03:06.659 --> 00:03:08.979 What both these things have in common. 00:03:09.939 --> 00:03:13.259 Whether it's thinking of Jackanori or thinking of the psalm. 00:03:13.419 --> 00:03:14.199 Psalm 34. 00:03:14.539 --> 00:03:17.579 It's about stopping what we're doing. 00:03:18.180 --> 00:03:20.539 And coming for a time to sit. 00:03:21.219 --> 00:03:22.199 And to listen. 00:03:23.399 --> 00:03:27.039 And that's what we have a great illustration of here with Martha and Mary. 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:28.859 The passage before us. 00:03:28.899 --> 00:03:29.859 Just a few verses. 00:03:30.060 --> 00:03:31.759 Verse 38 to 42. 00:03:31.759 --> 00:03:34.959 But it's so important for us. 00:03:35.500 --> 00:03:38.979 And you almost see it as well in the parable of the Good Samaritan. 00:03:39.519 --> 00:03:42.439 That's based on people being gathered around. 00:03:42.699 --> 00:03:43.319 And a lawyer. 00:03:43.379 --> 00:03:45.899 A man stood up and put this question to him. 00:03:45.899 --> 00:03:46.859 And so they're sitting. 00:03:47.439 --> 00:03:49.719 Listening to what Jesus has to say. 00:03:49.719 --> 00:03:56.919 And what we see with Mary and Martha is that there is this importance of stopping what we're doing. 00:03:57.000 --> 00:04:02.180 And just coming to listen to what Jesus has to say. 00:04:02.180 --> 00:04:04.800 And so that's why it's important for us. 00:04:04.800 --> 00:04:08.480 Not just to come to church maybe once because we get an invitation. 00:04:08.840 --> 00:04:11.980 But to come because of what we see that we're coming to. 00:04:12.060 --> 00:04:18.000 We're coming to sit and to listen to what Jesus has to say to us. 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:23.860 So Jesus here comes to the home of Mary and Martha. 00:04:24.819 --> 00:04:28.060 And they respond quite differently. 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:33.100 Mary and Martha, they seem to have different priorities at this time. 00:04:33.879 --> 00:04:35.779 And the question would often be asked then, 00:04:36.319 --> 00:04:37.379 Are you a Mary? 00:04:38.220 --> 00:04:39.379 Or are you a Martha? 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:44.860 Are you one who just wants to come and sit at the feet of Jesus and hear his teaching? 00:04:44.860 --> 00:04:48.840 Or are you one who's busying yourself in good things? 00:04:49.879 --> 00:04:52.100 And is there a right answer? 00:04:53.240 --> 00:04:55.080 Or should we be both? 00:04:56.160 --> 00:04:59.460 Because you see here, Martha wasn't all in the wrong. 00:05:00.020 --> 00:05:02.840 Although she was reminded what was important. 00:05:03.780 --> 00:05:07.100 And Mary was reminded too what is important. 00:05:08.020 --> 00:05:11.280 And we are reminded what is important. 00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:15.159 We are really to be both Mary and Martha. 00:05:16.019 --> 00:05:18.399 Busying ourselves in good things. 00:05:19.099 --> 00:05:22.439 But not forgetting what is the main thing. 00:05:23.099 --> 00:05:25.319 And what our main priority is. 00:05:25.699 --> 00:05:29.759 That one thing necessary as Jesus describes it here. 00:05:29.839 --> 00:05:33.339 The good portion which will not be taken away. 00:05:33.339 --> 00:05:41.500 So it's about coming to see the importance of listening to Jesus and making that time. 00:05:42.579 --> 00:05:45.899 And so I want us to see just four things, four lessons for us here. 00:05:46.259 --> 00:05:49.060 As we think of the priority that Mary has here in coming. 00:05:49.719 --> 00:05:54.679 To sit at the feet of Jesus and to listen to his teaching. 00:05:55.079 --> 00:05:57.000 That's what verse 39 says. 00:05:57.519 --> 00:06:00.339 And we can first of all think of focusing our priorities. 00:06:00.339 --> 00:06:00.939 Focusing our priorities. 00:06:01.500 --> 00:06:03.259 Focusing our priorities. 00:06:03.399 --> 00:06:08.039 We mentioned priorities last week as we were looking at it in Luke 14. 00:06:08.919 --> 00:06:14.739 When the invitation went out to come to the banquet, there were those who made their excuses. 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:17.519 They got the priorities all mixed up. 00:06:18.379 --> 00:06:22.099 There was one who had bought a field and he wanted to go and see it. 00:06:22.219 --> 00:06:26.839 There was another who had bought five yoke of oxen and he wanted to go and test them. 00:06:26.839 --> 00:06:31.219 There was another who had got married and that was his priority at the moment. 00:06:31.599 --> 00:06:35.560 And you say to yourself, there's nothing wrong in and of themselves. 00:06:35.719 --> 00:06:38.459 These are the important aspects of our lives. 00:06:38.519 --> 00:06:43.659 When we think of our home, our family, our work, all of these things, they're important. 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:48.120 But it's about prioritizing what's right. 00:06:48.120 --> 00:07:00.540 And we saw that the priority is not to get so distracted in these things that we forget about the importance of the gospel and about Jesus and about what he has done for us. 00:07:01.259 --> 00:07:08.300 And looking at this scene in Mary and Martha's home as well, you see that there's a lot going on. 00:07:09.280 --> 00:07:11.840 Martha is busying herself. 00:07:12.079 --> 00:07:13.160 Jesus is coming. 00:07:13.160 --> 00:07:17.860 They're obviously a close family, a family who are close to Jesus. 00:07:18.060 --> 00:07:22.860 You see, when their brother Lazarus passes away, it would be after this event. 00:07:23.300 --> 00:07:25.880 You see just how precious they were to Jesus. 00:07:26.820 --> 00:07:31.280 But Martha was concerned about preparing a meal and serving the guests. 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:38.260 Mary was more concerned about being in the presence of the Lord Jesus sitting at his feet. 00:07:38.259 --> 00:07:43.379 But you notice here just how he deals with Martha as well as Mary. 00:07:44.060 --> 00:07:54.339 And it's interesting when you see that when he came into the village in verse 38, a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 00:07:54.599 --> 00:07:57.740 So Martha was the one who welcomed him in. 00:07:58.480 --> 00:07:59.819 Martha was the one who met him. 00:08:00.279 --> 00:08:03.079 So Martha had a good priority there as well. 00:08:03.219 --> 00:08:04.120 Come in, Jesus. 00:08:05.079 --> 00:08:06.099 Come into our home. 00:08:06.100 --> 00:08:15.640 And that's a great thing for us all to think about in our own priorities, our own homes, our own lives, to welcome Jesus in as part of our lives. 00:08:16.820 --> 00:08:23.120 But it's not just to lose sight then of just who Jesus is and what's important about Jesus. 00:08:23.800 --> 00:08:28.060 It's not just about saying, well, I come to church and it's good to be among God's people. 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:33.240 It's good to be here to enjoy fellowship and to enjoy tea and coffee and all of these things. 00:08:33.240 --> 00:08:35.620 That's good in and of itself. 00:08:37.000 --> 00:08:45.620 But what we see is with Mary, she had a sister called Mary who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 00:08:46.759 --> 00:08:49.480 Coming to church is great. 00:08:50.600 --> 00:08:55.879 But the importance is to come and hear and listen to what Jesus has to say. 00:08:55.879 --> 00:09:02.639 And to see where our priorities lie, to see just what is important in our lives. 00:09:04.480 --> 00:09:08.700 Martha didn't make the most of having Jesus in the home. 00:09:09.980 --> 00:09:11.720 And for us, we could be the same. 00:09:11.799 --> 00:09:17.820 We don't make the most of being alongside God's people, about being under God's word. 00:09:17.820 --> 00:09:28.940 Or all of these things, when our priorities are maybe different, when we're distracted and getting caught up in everything else, we can miss out on so much. 00:09:30.620 --> 00:09:42.760 If everything in our lives takes precedence over being with the Lord, then we're missing out on the heart of the experience, of hearing what Jesus has to say. 00:09:42.759 --> 00:09:50.620 Even when we're busy in his work, and we can all be doing this and guilty of it as well. 00:09:50.679 --> 00:09:52.379 We can be busy in church life. 00:09:52.460 --> 00:09:55.240 We can be busy doing things in church life. 00:09:55.340 --> 00:10:03.840 We always have to be on our guard that we don't allow that busyness to come between us and coming to have that time at the feet of Jesus. 00:10:04.960 --> 00:10:08.460 Of making that our priority as well. 00:10:08.460 --> 00:10:12.680 So we have to get our priorities in order. 00:10:13.440 --> 00:10:15.660 It's not one or the other. 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:17.080 Busyness or sitting. 00:10:17.240 --> 00:10:18.080 It's not one or the other. 00:10:18.379 --> 00:10:19.759 It's about both. 00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:21.879 And how we can do both. 00:10:22.420 --> 00:10:30.300 But making sure that in the busyness of life, we have the priority of having time with Jesus as well. 00:10:30.299 --> 00:10:46.879 Because if we want to grow in our knowledge of the Lord Jesus, if we want to see the joy that he is able to bring to our lives, the peace that he is able to give to us, when there's so much that's crazy going on around us, then we need to spend time in his presence. 00:10:47.079 --> 00:10:49.679 Spend time in his word. 00:10:49.679 --> 00:11:19.659 Spend time in his word. 00:11:19.659 --> 00:11:49.639 Spend time in his word. 00:11:49.639 --> 00:11:51.240 Spend time in his word. 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:51.240 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:51.240 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:51.240 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:51.240 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:51.240 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:51.240 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:51.240 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:59.139 Then secondly, we see here, when we do that, we feed our souls. 00:11:59.860 --> 00:12:02.199 We feed our souls. 00:12:02.199 --> 00:12:06.659 Martha was worried about physical nourishment. 00:12:06.779 --> 00:12:08.240 About getting food here. 00:12:08.319 --> 00:12:10.819 About making sure that everybody was looked after in that way. 00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:14.539 But Mary was more concerned about getting her soul fed. 00:12:14.539 --> 00:12:24.519 and that's a key for us as well. It's good to entertain people, to have fellowship, 00:12:24.980 --> 00:12:29.639 to have food together. All of these things are good, but to feed our souls in the midst of it 00:12:29.639 --> 00:12:35.139 as well. So even as we have our tea and coffee after the service that we seek to not just 00:12:35.139 --> 00:12:41.019 have a biscuit and a cup of tea, but to have discussion, to have talk, to get alongside one 00:12:41.019 --> 00:12:47.259 another, to know one another, to love one another, to feed our souls in that way. We were talking about 00:12:47.259 --> 00:12:54.179 spiritual things. We were talking about the Word of God. We were talking about praying together. We 00:12:54.179 --> 00:13:01.059 were talking about encouraging one another because in his presence we find that that is what the Lord 00:13:01.059 --> 00:13:09.259 does for us as we sit and listen to what he has to say to us. It feeds our soul. It nourishes our soul. 00:13:11.019 --> 00:13:19.939 1 Peter. Peter speaks there about being chapter 2. Like newborn babies, we crave pure spiritual milk 00:13:19.939 --> 00:13:26.600 so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. There's to be this desire for the Lord, this hunger 00:13:26.600 --> 00:13:34.679 for the Lord so that we are growing up in the Lord and in our understanding of him. We are to feed 00:13:34.679 --> 00:13:42.799 our souls. How discouraging it can be when we face challenges and we've not fed our soul. We forget 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:52.259 the Lord's promises. We forget the Lord's goodness. The phrase burnout is so common today because we live 00:13:52.259 --> 00:14:01.339 in a world where life is so rushed and so busy, where the world just thrives us to that 24-7 kind of 00:14:01.340 --> 00:14:11.840 mindset. It's all about being busy, busy, busy. But God gave us a day when we look at God's Word, when we come 00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:17.680 to it from beginning to end, we see the pattern that God has set for us. And in the beginning when he created 00:14:17.680 --> 00:14:25.280 the heavens and the earth on the seventh day, he rested. And he gave that to us as a creation ordinance, 00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:32.539 as we call it, to keep the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, set apart for this very purpose of gathering 00:14:32.539 --> 00:14:42.299 round, coming to sit around the Word of God and to listen to what the Lord has to say, to feed our souls. 00:14:44.079 --> 00:14:50.679 So that instead of burning ourselves out, we are to be filling ourselves with the Word of God. 00:14:50.679 --> 00:14:56.359 Just like the two on the road to Emmaus, as they were walking along with Jesus there on the road 00:14:56.359 --> 00:15:03.699 to Emmaus, after his resurrection, Jesus appeared beside them and started to open up the Scriptures, 00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:09.859 it says, to them. And what did they say? Did not our hearts burn within us? 00:15:11.639 --> 00:15:16.939 They weren't burnt out. They were put into flame. They were set aflame because they were listening to 00:15:16.940 --> 00:15:24.380 what Jesus was having to say to them. They were being given understanding about everything that had taken place. 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:33.620 Their eyes were opened to see him and to know him. And that's what we are to do as well, to seek to feed our souls, 00:15:33.800 --> 00:15:39.720 to nourish our souls, to make sure that we are coming under the Word of God together, 00:15:39.720 --> 00:15:46.040 whether it's on the Sunday or the midweek opportunities that we have, or whether it's by ourselves, 00:15:46.860 --> 00:15:54.019 in our own quiet time as well, to make sure that we have these priorities of feeding our soul. 00:15:55.620 --> 00:16:04.120 Mary sat to listen to what Jesus had to say. And that's so important for us, to keep us going in this world. 00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:12.139 It's not just about coming to church once or occasionally, but constantly coming to sit at the feet of Jesus, 00:16:12.279 --> 00:16:21.039 to feed and nourish our soul for that one thing that's necessary, that good portion as he describes it here, 00:16:21.700 --> 00:16:25.279 to feed and nourish our souls in that way. 00:16:26.220 --> 00:16:29.100 Mary listened to what Jesus was saying. 00:16:29.100 --> 00:16:31.000 Martha was busy. 00:16:31.659 --> 00:16:38.019 Let's make sure that we're not over busy, but that we can make time to sit and listen to Jesus. 00:16:39.399 --> 00:16:46.800 Third thing we see here is we can bring our cares to the Lord as well as we come to sit at the feet of Jesus. 00:16:48.180 --> 00:16:52.060 Martha was loved by Jesus just as much as Mary was. 00:16:52.139 --> 00:16:57.860 You see that through these few verses, Martha welcomed him into her house. 00:16:57.860 --> 00:17:01.560 Martha was distracted with much serving. 00:17:02.139 --> 00:17:04.200 She wanted Jesus to have the best. 00:17:05.180 --> 00:17:09.079 And then when she comes with a complaint in verse 40, 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:12.860 Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? 00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:14.700 Tell her then to help me. 00:17:15.079 --> 00:17:19.000 Look at the way the Lord answers her, Martha, Martha. 00:17:20.420 --> 00:17:22.200 He uses her name twice. 00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:24.039 Martha, Martha. 00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:28.720 It's like there's a gentle and a loving rebuke there. 00:17:29.659 --> 00:17:34.279 Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things. 00:17:35.259 --> 00:17:36.940 He's got a concern for her. 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:41.619 And he's saying, really, Martha, bring your cares to me. 00:17:42.899 --> 00:17:46.940 She's busy, anxious, troubled, distracted here. 00:17:47.460 --> 00:17:48.579 Who isn't? 00:17:48.579 --> 00:17:53.299 We all find ourselves in that way where there's so much going on in our minds, 00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:55.460 so many things that need our attention. 00:17:55.599 --> 00:18:01.500 We can so easily end up in this way that Martha is distracted in so many ways, 00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:05.759 anxious and troubled about many things. 00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:11.199 And when we have Jesus there to bring our cares to. 00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:15.379 Somebody once put it like this, just a short statement. 00:18:15.380 --> 00:18:18.960 Beware of the barrenness of a busy life. 00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:23.320 Beware of the barrenness of a busy life. 00:18:23.900 --> 00:18:27.920 Where we don't take that time to be with Jesus. 00:18:28.540 --> 00:18:32.120 Beware the barrenness of a busy life. 00:18:33.840 --> 00:18:40.880 But Jesus is reminding us here that he is there for us to bring all our cares to him. 00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:46.580 Because the more we come to him, the more we see the power that there is in prayer. 00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:53.320 The more that we see the privilege that we have in knowing the one who has made the heavens and the earth and everything in them. 00:18:53.640 --> 00:18:55.720 That we have this God for us. 00:18:56.840 --> 00:19:01.700 And the more we learn of him, the more we see, well, everything I am anxious about. 00:19:01.820 --> 00:19:03.360 Everything I am worried about. 00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:05.899 I can bring it to him in prayer. 00:19:06.859 --> 00:19:11.359 And he is able to give me that peace that passes understanding. 00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:14.439 We can bring our cares to him. 00:19:14.479 --> 00:19:17.679 And there's so many scriptures that remind us of that. 00:19:18.099 --> 00:19:18.819 In Peter it says, 00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:22.879 Cast your cares on him for he cares for you. 00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:27.160 In Philippians 4 verse 6 it says, 00:19:27.300 --> 00:19:32.380 Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving. 00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:35.040 Present your requests to God. 00:19:35.120 --> 00:19:42.960 And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:48.800 We have a peace to be found when we come and cast our cares. 00:19:48.800 --> 00:19:51.280 When we come to the feet of Jesus. 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:52.759 There's the hymn, 00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:54.460 What a friend we have in Jesus. 00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:58.160 And it speaks into this kind of situation as well. 00:19:58.480 --> 00:20:00.539 About all the troubles that we have. 00:20:00.660 --> 00:20:02.000 What a friend we have in Jesus. 00:20:02.180 --> 00:20:05.299 All our sins and griefs to bear. 00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:09.059 What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:11.779 Oh what peace we often forfeit. 00:20:11.980 --> 00:20:13.859 Oh what needless pain we bear. 00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:18.220 All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer. 00:20:18.220 --> 00:20:26.400 So we have that desire put in our heart here as we have it to sit at the feet of Jesus and bring our cares to him. 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:28.160 The hymn goes on to say, 00:20:28.600 --> 00:20:30.420 Are we weak and heavy laden? 00:20:31.860 --> 00:20:33.200 Is that you today? 00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:39.680 Weak, heavy laden, burdened, distracted by so many things. 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:42.019 Cumbered with a load of care. 00:20:42.320 --> 00:20:44.500 Precious saviour, still a refuge. 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:46.720 Take it to the Lord in prayer. 00:20:47.180 --> 00:20:49.880 Do your friends despise, forsake you? 00:20:50.299 --> 00:20:52.000 Take it to the Lord in prayer. 00:20:52.140 --> 00:20:54.340 In his arms he'll take and shield you. 00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:56.799 You will find a solace there. 00:20:57.240 --> 00:21:03.080 There's this image there of just coming to Jesus with everything in our life. 00:21:03.079 --> 00:21:08.460 And that he is able to give us that care and that peace. 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:14.240 We come again and again and again to him. 00:21:15.899 --> 00:21:19.980 The last thing we see here is we can find ourselves. 00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:23.399 We can find ourselves. 00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:26.179 Mary found contentment. 00:21:26.180 --> 00:21:30.840 She found meaning, she found purpose at the feet of Jesus. 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:34.100 Just the way Jesus puts it in verse 42. 00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:36.620 But one thing is necessary. 00:21:37.220 --> 00:21:43.380 Mary has chosen the good portion which will not be taken away from her. 00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:45.400 There's contentment. 00:21:46.220 --> 00:21:50.460 There's real contentment in coming to the feet of Jesus. 00:21:51.140 --> 00:21:54.580 And to come to the feet of Jesus requires humility. 00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:54.699 humility. 00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:58.139 It requires humbling ourselves. 00:21:59.059 --> 00:22:02.159 When you look at the parable of the Good Samaritan, 00:22:03.619 --> 00:22:07.879 and you see it when the rich young ruler comes to Jesus as well, 00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:12.720 they have this question of what must I do to inherit eternal life? 00:22:13.740 --> 00:22:15.299 It's about the things that we are doing. 00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:20.639 Last week we were mentioning that religion is not what we do, 00:22:21.099 --> 00:22:22.619 but what is done. 00:22:22.619 --> 00:22:26.599 And what Jesus has done for us. 00:22:26.639 --> 00:22:28.179 And the more we are at the feet of Jesus, 00:22:28.359 --> 00:22:30.500 the more that we see it is done. 00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:33.099 He has done all things for us. 00:22:33.219 --> 00:22:35.019 Everything is now ready. 00:22:35.559 --> 00:22:37.939 So humility is important for us. 00:22:38.919 --> 00:22:40.639 And James Parker's got a book, 00:22:40.739 --> 00:22:42.000 Your Father Loves You. 00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:46.279 And in this book he speaks about the humility of Paul 00:22:46.279 --> 00:22:48.940 and how does an ever-increasing humility. 00:22:49.220 --> 00:22:53.539 He speaks about three texts about how Paul describes himself. 00:22:54.139 --> 00:22:56.139 1 Corinthians 15, 9, he says, 00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:58.460 I am the very least of all the saints. 00:22:59.240 --> 00:23:01.339 Then in Ephesians 3, verse 8, he says, 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:02.460 I am the foremost. 00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:05.740 I am the least of all the saints. 00:23:06.220 --> 00:23:07.519 I am the least of the apostles. 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:09.319 It's the first one, sorry, in 1 Corinthians. 00:23:09.319 --> 00:23:11.740 I am the least of the saints in Ephesians. 00:23:12.099 --> 00:23:15.099 I am the foremost of sinners in 1 Timothy 1. 00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:18.839 And what's interesting is that each of these texts 00:23:18.839 --> 00:23:22.500 is like he's going lower as the years are passing. 00:23:23.099 --> 00:23:25.759 And that's the way James Parker describes it. 00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:26.059 He says, 00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:28.419 Humility and a passion for praise 00:23:28.419 --> 00:23:30.579 are a pair of characteristics 00:23:30.579 --> 00:23:34.139 which together indicate growth in grace. 00:23:34.299 --> 00:23:37.779 Humility and a passion for praise. 00:23:38.919 --> 00:23:41.659 And that over the years you see Paul, he says, 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:43.339 growing downward. 00:23:44.619 --> 00:23:46.899 And as he's humbling himself, 00:23:46.899 --> 00:23:49.859 his praise is increasing. 00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:53.539 Just like John the Baptist who said, 00:23:53.539 --> 00:23:57.180 he must increase and I must decrease. 00:23:57.940 --> 00:24:00.940 That's what we find as we come to the feet of Jesus. 00:24:01.059 --> 00:24:02.259 We find ourselves. 00:24:02.460 --> 00:24:03.599 We find our purpose. 00:24:04.139 --> 00:24:05.339 We find our peace 00:24:05.339 --> 00:24:08.359 because we begin to see more of ourselves 00:24:08.359 --> 00:24:10.059 and our unworthiness 00:24:10.059 --> 00:24:12.279 and all that we cannot do. 00:24:13.399 --> 00:24:16.700 But we see all of what God has done for us in Christ. 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:22.500 And we're able to give him more and more glory. 00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:26.740 Mary sat at the feet of Jesus here. 00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:29.240 It was a time of peace. 00:24:30.539 --> 00:24:31.960 But later on in her life, 00:24:32.039 --> 00:24:33.519 a time of trouble came 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:36.079 when her brother passed away. 00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:39.079 But she was still able to come 00:24:39.079 --> 00:24:40.960 to the feet of Jesus 00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:43.759 and find in Jesus there 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:46.960 the one who had power over all things, 00:24:47.319 --> 00:24:48.139 even death. 00:24:48.140 --> 00:24:51.660 And so we find 00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:54.440 this promise of eternal life 00:24:54.440 --> 00:24:55.140 is found 00:24:55.140 --> 00:24:56.600 in Jesus. 00:24:59.500 --> 00:25:00.900 And it is real. 00:25:02.140 --> 00:25:03.600 And that's what we come 00:25:03.600 --> 00:25:05.460 to hear about here. 00:25:05.600 --> 00:25:06.240 This is not 00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:07.300 Chakanori. 00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:10.180 It's not a fictional book. 00:25:11.220 --> 00:25:12.600 It's not just something 00:25:12.600 --> 00:25:13.880 that's made up. 00:25:13.880 --> 00:25:16.420 It's given to us 00:25:16.420 --> 00:25:17.160 from God 00:25:17.160 --> 00:25:19.000 so that we can hear 00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:20.840 and fear the Lord 00:25:20.840 --> 00:25:21.360 and come 00:25:21.360 --> 00:25:22.480 to live 00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:23.640 for him. 00:25:25.380 --> 00:25:26.260 Mary found 00:25:26.260 --> 00:25:27.380 that meaning, 00:25:27.920 --> 00:25:29.480 that thing necessary, 00:25:29.620 --> 00:25:30.080 that good portion 00:25:30.080 --> 00:25:33.040 that would never be taken away from her. 00:25:33.080 --> 00:25:33.360 Why? 00:25:34.340 --> 00:25:35.320 Because she came 00:25:35.320 --> 00:25:36.640 to the feet of Jesus. 00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:38.800 And that's why 00:25:38.800 --> 00:25:39.580 we are to come 00:25:39.580 --> 00:25:40.940 and to keep on coming. 00:25:42.060 --> 00:25:43.360 Not just to enjoy 00:25:43.360 --> 00:25:44.340 time together, 00:25:44.700 --> 00:25:45.440 which we do 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:46.440 and we hope we do, 00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:48.820 but more importantly 00:25:48.820 --> 00:25:49.640 it's to come 00:25:49.640 --> 00:25:51.580 and listen 00:25:51.580 --> 00:25:53.020 to what Jesus 00:25:53.020 --> 00:25:54.180 has to say. 00:25:55.180 --> 00:25:55.800 Come here, 00:25:55.880 --> 00:25:56.440 my children, 00:25:56.680 --> 00:25:57.360 gather round 00:25:57.360 --> 00:25:57.940 and listen 00:25:57.940 --> 00:25:59.120 to my word 00:25:59.120 --> 00:26:00.060 and I will help you 00:26:00.060 --> 00:26:00.900 understand 00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:01.440 how you 00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:03.259 may fear the Lord. 00:26:04.180 --> 00:26:05.460 That's what we are to do. 00:26:05.460 --> 00:26:07.620 just like Mary here. 00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:09.500 She sat 00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:11.500 at the Lord's feet 00:26:11.500 --> 00:26:12.299 and listened 00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:14.000 to his teaching. 00:26:14.840 --> 00:26:15.680 May we listen 00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:17.079 to his teaching 00:26:17.079 --> 00:26:18.140 that we may find 00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:19.840 purpose, 00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:20.640 meaning, 00:26:21.299 --> 00:26:21.720 peace 00:26:21.720 --> 00:26:23.019 and joy 00:26:23.019 --> 00:26:24.340 in the one 00:26:24.340 --> 00:26:25.079 who has 00:26:25.079 --> 00:26:26.759 eternal life 00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:27.539 to give us. 00:26:28.680 --> 00:26:30.059 May he bless us 00:26:30.059 --> 00:26:31.400 through his word 00:26:31.400 --> 00:26:32.880 and may we keep 00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:34.480 coming back to it 00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:36.220 again and again, 00:26:36.460 --> 00:26:38.259 strengthened by it 00:26:38.259 --> 00:26:39.839 and for his glory. 00:26:40.299 --> 00:26:40.960 Let us pray. 00:26:43.400 --> 00:26:43.920 Lord, 00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:45.059 our gracious God, 00:26:45.140 --> 00:26:45.740 we thank you 00:26:45.740 --> 00:26:46.180 that you are 00:26:46.180 --> 00:26:47.819 one who is never silent 00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:49.440 but one who always speaks. 00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:51.460 One who has a word 00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:52.380 to say to 00:26:52.380 --> 00:26:53.620 your people 00:26:53.620 --> 00:26:55.180 every day of life, 00:26:55.319 --> 00:26:56.460 through every generation, 00:26:56.700 --> 00:26:57.799 through every experience. 00:26:57.799 --> 00:26:59.480 and so we pray, 00:26:59.680 --> 00:26:59.779 Lord, 00:26:59.879 --> 00:27:00.819 for that desire 00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:01.980 of Mary 00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:03.359 to be ours as well, 00:27:03.419 --> 00:27:04.500 just as it's important 00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:05.859 to be a Martha 00:27:05.859 --> 00:27:06.440 at times, 00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:07.139 to be busy 00:27:07.139 --> 00:27:09.000 in many good things. 00:27:09.460 --> 00:27:10.519 May we also find 00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:11.419 the importance 00:27:11.419 --> 00:27:12.539 of coming 00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:13.220 to sit 00:27:13.220 --> 00:27:14.240 at the feet 00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:14.799 of Jesus 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:15.659 and to listen 00:27:15.659 --> 00:27:17.000 to what you have 00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:17.539 to see. 00:27:17.879 --> 00:27:18.700 So guide us 00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:19.299 and bless us, 00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:19.700 we pray, 00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:20.440 for giving us 00:27:20.440 --> 00:27:21.059 our sin 00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:22.559 in Jesus' name. 00:27:22.940 --> 00:27:23.259 Amen. 00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:28.599 We're going to conclude 00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:29.259 by singing 00:27:29.259 --> 00:27:30.259 to God's praise 00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:31.680 in Psalm 25, 00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:34.160 the Scottish Psalter version. 00:27:36.500 --> 00:27:38.099 Psalm 25, 00:27:38.599 --> 00:27:40.000 page 231. 00:27:43.160 --> 00:27:43.920 We'll sing 00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:44.740 from verse 1 00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:46.059 to verse 5. 00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:48.119 The tune is, 00:27:48.579 --> 00:27:48.940 Dennis, 00:27:49.259 --> 00:27:50.539 to thee I lift my soul, 00:27:50.599 --> 00:27:50.900 O Lord, 00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:51.920 I trust in thee, 00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:52.440 my God, 00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:53.220 let me not be 00:27:53.220 --> 00:27:53.799 ashamed, 00:27:54.360 --> 00:27:55.539 nor foes triumph 00:27:55.539 --> 00:27:56.039 for me. 00:27:56.100 --> 00:27:56.460 We'll sing 00:27:56.460 --> 00:27:57.140 from verse 1 00:27:57.140 --> 00:27:57.700 to 5 00:27:57.700 --> 00:27:58.819 to God's praise. 00:27:58.819 --> 00:27:58.940 Amen. 00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:29.759 Let me not be ashamed, 00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:30.539 nor foes triumph 00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:31.539 for me. 00:28:31.539 --> 00:28:32.539 For me, 00:28:32.539 --> 00:28:33.539 for me, 00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:35.539 for me, 00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:36.539 for me. 00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:41.539 When the blood 00:28:41.539 --> 00:28:45.539 wait on thee, 00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:50.900 ye do to shame 00:28:50.900 --> 00:28:51.720 won't put in love. 00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:57.780 Let's cry in love. 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:57.780 00:29:20.900 --> 00:29:27.560 O teacher, ye, 00:29:27.860 --> 00:29:37.200 unto the redeemed thy truth, 00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:44.460 there is my teacher ye. 00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:53.559 For thou art all that does, 00:29:53.860 --> 00:30:00.720 to me salvation send, 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:10.460 and I upon thee all that live, 00:30:10.460 --> 00:30:16.640 expecting to attend. 00:30:19.340 --> 00:30:21.860 After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my right. 00:30:21.940 --> 00:30:23.140 We'll close with a benediction. 00:30:24.180 --> 00:30:27.279 Now may grace, mercy, and peace from God, 00:30:27.420 --> 00:30:30.059 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rest upon 00:30:30.059 --> 00:30:32.980 and abide with you all now and forevermore. 00:30:33.400 --> 00:30:33.740 Amen. 00:30:40.460 --> 00:30:41.460 Amen. 00:31:10.460 --> 00:31:11.460 Amen. 00:31:11.460 --> 00:31:12.460 Amen. 00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:12.460