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The Truth Of The Matter is Episode 198 The Space Between Or Walking the Middle Path (Balance)
9 Plays2 hours ago
In 2026, the reality is this: people are juggling more than ever — career, relationships, family, health, finances, faith, and personal growth. Each role demands time and energy, and often they compete with one another. When one area improves, another can feel neglected. The truth is, doing everything well at the same time is impossible. So the question becomes:
Is it really possible to find balance? What should we prioritize? And can we live with the decisions we make? Jonathan takes us to a powerful passage that centers on three revealing words: Concerned, Worried, and Upset. Through this lens, he challenges listeners to examine where their focus truly lies. Are we overwhelmed by what feels urgent? Distracted by what doesn’t matter most? Or anxious about things beyond our control? Tune in and discover the direction he leads us — and consider for yourself: did the message change how you think about balance? The passage for inspiration is Luke 10:38-42 NLT
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Transcript
Introduction and Purpose
00:00:00
Speaker
Welcome to the Truth of the Matters Podcast. I'm your host, Jonathan, and this is episode 198. Let's begin by recognizing and appreciating all of our new and consistent listeners.
00:00:23
Speaker
We thank you all in advance for continuing to press play at your own convenience. And we pray that this podcast, regardless of the episode that you find yourself pressing play on can and will be a blessing to you.
00:00:37
Speaker
Thank you so much for tuning in today. Of course, I'm your host, Jonathan, and I want to make it known that anytime you press play. We want to leave you with a lasting impression on seeing the value and importance of reading your Bible, the importance of fellowship and the importance of praying to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who is and was and is still to come.
Community Invitation
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Speaker
With that being said, also want to inform people and let them know that they wish to sit down and have discussions biblically and you're in a tri-state area of Brooklyn, New York every Saturday.
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From 11 to 1, we have a Bible study, one in which I've run and I sit there and discuss scriptures and talk about life with seniors. If you're interested, don't be afraid.
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Come sit in and I can guarantee that you'll learn something either from a biblical perspective or from an experience perspective. Thank you so much for tuning in to what was shared two weeks ago.
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It was something that I thought needed to be shared. And so if you haven't checked out episode 197, I encourage you to do so.
Message Overview
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Moving along, of course, before we get back into the Gospel of Matthew series, there are a few messages that I do want to share with you. I want to share these messages with you because I think they're profound, they're helpful, they're unique at a time and place and situation that I was in.
00:02:19
Speaker
And I believe without a doubt that God revealed to me some information that I want to depart on to you. So if you've decided to press play today, I hope that what I share with you today will be a blessing and an everlasting impact on your desire to search the scriptures for truth and for ways to adjust the way that you live, the way that you see things, but most importantly, your relationship with God.
00:02:46
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Normally I'll have a opportunity to depart to you ways in which I believe the Lord has blessed you or myself.
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However, I want to skip a couple of those things today because I want to get to the overarching point, which I think is a very practical message.
Opening Prayer
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But first and foremost, here on the Truth For The Matters podcast, what we do is pray first and foremost. Heavenly Father, Lord, in Jesus' name, we come to you once again, humble, unashamed at our relationship with you.
00:03:23
Speaker
We thank you so much for your word because in it is guidance. In it provides us direction. And that direction leads us to be more Christ-like. Thank you so much for your word because without it, we would be a ship on ocean without any guide.
00:03:43
Speaker
And so we don't take enough opportunity to thank you and appreciate you for being God and God alone. You've done marvelous things for each and every one of us, which is why we testify of your goodness. we testify of what you've been able to do and continue to do. And so we know that you're a God who will never leave us nor forsake us.
00:04:08
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But at any call, any time of the day, any time of the night, any time of the morning, you are there. And so, Lord, we know when we pray to you, you hear us. And we know that you hear us because we know the things that we share with you don't fall on deaf ears.
00:04:24
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But that it makes it to you. You care about us. And so you've left your word And in that word provides us life. It provides us a different perspective. And so we go to it for that perspective.
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Lord, I pray and I ask that what I share with those who are listening, they will leave different than which they came about this passage and what it has revealed to me.
00:04:50
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that I want to depart on to those who have decided to press play today. Use me in a mighty way as your instrument for righteousness. Lord, we say these things in confidence with surety in who you are and what you're capable of doing and what you will do to those who have an open view of you and will allow you to open up our eyes.
00:05:16
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Lord, of course, open up our eyes to see our ears to hear our hearts to receive and our minds to understand you. Lord, we say these things in Jesus name we pray.
00:05:27
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Amen and amen. So without further ado, first thing I want to do is I want to bring back
00:05:38
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to your remembrance. If this is your first time listening to the Truth For The Matters podcast, welcome. If you've been with us at any point in the last five years, there was an episode that I produced called Handling Concerns. It's a very powerful message. It's about 50 minutes long. My suggestion is after this message, I encourage you to go back and listen to that message because in ways they are alike and ways they interchangeably crossover and in ways they are both blessings
Scripture Insight
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today I want to talk about a passage that I have read in the Gospel of Luke and I've completely glossed over it over it and sometimes when you read scripture again I've mentioned this in previous episodes
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God has a way of revealing something to you that you've completely overlooked. As a matter of fact, it's sealed in a way. that it's is it isn't revealed to you as of yet, sometimes due to maturity, sometimes due to timing, other times due to how you are reading the Bible.
00:06:53
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And so this particular passage is a passage that I did not cover when I did the Gospel Luke series. As a matter of fact, there are times that I run across passages that I revisit,
00:07:08
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And I also have done this in the past when it came to the Gospel Luke series. I call these particular passages startling discoveries because once it this revelation knowledge was revealed to me, it comes across as a startling discovery, a discovery that I did not know at
Balance in Life
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first. And so I want to encourage you and let you know that as you continue to read scripture,
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You're going to come across passages that have deep and profound meaning where you are currently in your life. As a matter of fact, sometimes there's a deep and and profound meaning to someone who needs to hear what it is that you're sharing.
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And so to you and to all of you who first play, I'm going to share with you this passage of scripture. The title of this particular message that I'm sharing with you today is simply put the space between.
00:08:05
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That's the name of the title, The Space Between. If you prefer something else, so I want to give you a different title. It's called Walking the Middle Path. Walking the Middle Path. So either one works, The Space Between or Walking the Middle Path.
00:08:22
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And the goal here is to advertise and talk about the importance of balance. Balance is very important to everyone who's living this thing called life, whether you're a believer, whether you're not believer. Balance is something we all seek to want to have because in it allows you to govern, monitor what it is that you're doing.
00:08:53
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Again, so the goal in life is that you want to monitor how you're approaching things, how you are looking at things, how you are going about things. And the reason why you want to monitor how you're doing these things, because being able to have a balance in all that you do will give you the opportunity to never overdo it.
00:09:17
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But instead, place the right amount of effort, time, into what it is that you are doing so you can optimize your success in that very thing that you are doing.
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And so the passage I want to talk about today is in the Gospel Luke chapter 10 verses 38 through 42.
Mary and Martha Story
00:09:38
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And I'm going to read this in an NLT New Living Translation. Passes again is the Gospel Luke chapter 10 verses 38 to 42.
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And it reads as so, as Jesus and his disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.
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Her sister Mary sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing.
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She came to Jesus and said, Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.
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But the Lord said to her, my dear Martha, you're worried and upset over all these details. There is only one thing worthy being concerned about.
00:10:41
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Mary has discovered it and it will not be taking away from her. Very interesting passage. And I must say, when I first read it, ah glossed over
Understanding 'Hurry Sickness'
00:10:55
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it. As a matter of fact, I didn't think it was worth discussing. i didn't think it there was a message in it.
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But then what I did was I read the passage. I put my phone down and sat with the passage.
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I read it over and over again. And then it hit me things that need to be discussed, things that were worthy of being discussed and a lesson or several lessons to be taking away from it.
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So here's a history about the passage. Martha was known for her hospitality and active service.
00:11:45
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Verse 40 says that Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing.
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So how do we know that Martha was known for her hospitality and active service? Well, it tells you. At verse 38, as Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. It's safe to say that they knew who Jesus was. It's safe to say that as these disciples were on their journey, traveling to and fro,
00:12:29
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They needed something. And it's safe to say. That Christ. Knew the importance. Of passing by. And so there was a conversation that needed to transpire.
00:12:44
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Between. Martha. And Jesus. What's interesting is when you get to verse. 39 it says her sister mary sat at the lord's feet listening to what he taught and so we'll get back to that in a second because that's very important she made a decision mary made a decision to sit at the lord's feet listening to what he was teaching
00:13:18
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Now, verse 40 says that Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. And so. What occurred to me instantly.
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Is that. Her being distracted by the big dinner she was preparing reminded me of a phrase called hurry sickness. i don't know if anyone's ever heard of that, but hurry sickness is a behavior pattern marked by chronic rushing.
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We tend to think we have so much time that we don't value time. And sometimes we overestimate what can occur within a time period that could then prolong the process of us accomplishing of everything we need to accomplish.
00:14:09
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well And so when someone is distracted by preparation, right, I want to hit on this too. It means you're allowing the process of planning or organizing or getting ready for a task to take president over the actual execution.
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This is a form of procrastination, which can be seen as a change in focus. And so some of the characteristics that you would start to develop unintentionally tends to be things such as professionalistic anxiety.
00:14:49
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i don't know if everyone's ever heard of that. Perfectionalistic anxiety, which is the fear of failure and perfection that cause you to overplant. And so I'll give you an example of that.
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I think in preparation to do something, you can be worried about how it's going. to impact people who are listening.
00:15:19
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And so you start to try to create ways that can engage people. And so rather you just needing one example, you probably have four or five examples because of the if factor. What if this person doesn't get it? What this joke doesn't register?
00:15:40
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Right. So this is where being a perfectionist. Can then cause anxiety. This is also the reason why some people feel the need.
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To want approval. Right. So you do this excessive preparation. Because you want to create this appeal that you're smart, that you're organized, that you're well put together.
00:16:07
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Rather than be content with the work you did. And so sometimes when we speak, we feel the need to throw in big words, right, to be eloquent in the way we say things.
00:16:22
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And by doing the extra things, we don't actually sound smart at all. In fact, we can sound confusing. And so the simplest message sometimes is not how complex it is.
00:16:38
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is to make things easy for people to comprehend without feeling the need to have them think you're jumping through a bunch of hoops to get to the over engine point.
00:16:50
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And this can, of course, cause mental overload.
00:16:56
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Mental overload is when you, you know, focus on every little detail. And then you start to worry about those potential obstacles that, of course, have not arrived yet, but you're anticipating that they have.
00:17:11
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And so you can overload the brain leading to mental fatigue. And this can be, unfortunately, overwhelming. And so these are the things that can happen unintentionally.
00:17:27
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To give you some more practical examples that come to mind, think of purchasing work and not workout equipment to work out at home, but never actually beginning.
00:17:39
Speaker
Right. Some people do that. They go and they look for the best form of equipment to get the best results possible. But they never use those equipments. I'm sure there's a lot of us out there to have equipment that is still in the box, still in the wrap.
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And we've never used it. But the intention was good. The desire to do the very thing was good. It's just that you never did it. Here's another one. Spending weeks making a perfect study schedule instead of actually studying.
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Some of us feel that we need these very fancy and creative ways of studying, whether it's NDS cards, whether it's sticky notes with different colors.
00:18:26
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And so we get these amazing approaches all figured out. And it doesn't work out. And of course, I'm not addressing those who actually have different color coded highlighters that work for you, because there are people that struggle with different mental health issues that need those things. And so I'm not addressing that crowd.
00:18:50
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I'm just saying the excitement that we might get and trying to perfect this schedule, but never actually studying is, of course,
00:19:03
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Creating this idea of procrastination and shifting the focus and things rather than the actual tasks that you have to do.
00:19:18
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And of course, this is one that relates and is close to home. Over preparing for a body study with a bunch of information without the full willity of healthy dialogue and questions to take place.
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Always remember those who are out there who desire to share the word of God. Always be prepared. to realize that not everything you share is going to be digested immediately.
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And so it's not about the bunch of information that you give somebody.
Concern vs. Worry
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It's about the information that you start to give somebody and leave room for people to either disagree or agree and dialogue in between.
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Of course, the best conversations, in my opinion, are ones that are interactive and not ones that are strictly based on you throwing information out there.
00:20:23
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In my opinion, a lot of us can get information that we find from different sources, whether it's books or whether it's online resources. Throw a bunch of that information at somebody and then that particular person may not even get what it is that you're saying.
00:20:40
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This is why there's an importance of pausing in between the things you say. Because there's belief that what you're saying might take a longer for those to process. And when trying to process things, it's always important to allow people to think about it.
00:20:57
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Because by thinking about it, then can they register the information, process the information and allow the impact of that information to shape the way that person thinks or to encourage them to rethink the way that they've been thinking about that said thing.
00:21:20
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And so just a quick reminder, some of these characteristics will start to develop unintentionally when you are practicing hurry sickness.
00:21:39
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Understand that distraction by preparation
00:21:48
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to impact the process of planning, organizing and getting ready for a task.
00:21:56
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And Everything that's going on can actually impact the execution of that task. This is a form of procrastinating.
00:22:09
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The three that I mentioned is professionalistic anxiety, a need for approval. And this all can lead to mental overload.
00:22:27
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Now, it will be wrong for me to bring all these things up, but not provide ways that you can potentially manage it. And these ways to manage it is actually very simple.
00:22:40
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Nothing overly complex. Something very simple to keep in mind. As a person that's been producing this podcast for over five years now,
00:22:52
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One of the things that I learned when I first started this podcast is that I learned to embrace your imperfections and allow them to come along for the ride.
00:23:05
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I'm using myself as an example here because I realized podcasting has become a phenomenon for quite some time now in the last six to seven years.
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And I'm sure it may be longer than that. Editing.
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Information.
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All these different things have taken front and center when it comes to podcasting and sharing a message that you want to bless somebody with. And so be mindful that you're not going to speak without any flaws. You can get better at it.
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But just know it's not going to be perfect.
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And so with that, you have to allow the mistakes to come along for the ride and look at ways to improve it.
00:24:06
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Another way to manage what we just talked about
00:24:13
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is that we have to tailor expectations.
00:24:18
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If anyone's ever done P90X, P90X2, P90X3, even P90, there's a guy by the name of Tony Horton, who's the trainer.
00:24:29
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And one of the phrases he used to say is, do your best and forget the rest.
00:24:36
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We have another phrase that would say, keep it simple. And there's another word to it, but I'm not going to mention it.
00:24:45
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But the goal is to keep things simple. So simple that it's easy to follow. This in my opinion, will reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed, which can lead to over preparation.
00:25:01
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And finally, I want to talk about understanding your why. Once you understand your why and whatever you do,
00:25:11
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it will remind you of your purpose.
00:25:16
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Of course, these are easy ways to manage
00:25:24
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the unintentional organization planning of getting ready for a task. And of course, addressing procrastination.
00:25:39
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So in talking about concerning and worrying. I want to bring you to a passage. This passage want to bring you to is in first Corinthians chapter seven verses 32 to 35.
00:25:56
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But before we do that, I want to tell you why I felt the need to address the word concerned and worrying. It's another passage that I would use to address that because these are buzzwords that are mentioned within the passage that we're talking about today. The gospel of Luke chapter 10, verses 38 through 42.
00:26:19
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And you find these buzzwords from verse 41 to 42. forty two So I'll read them for you.
00:26:29
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This is Luke chapter 10 verses 41 to 42. But the Lord said to her, my dear Martha, you are worried.
00:26:41
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And upset over these details.
00:26:46
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There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it. and it will not be taken away from her.
00:26:58
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So we get the word worried. We get the word upset. We get the word concerned.
00:27:07
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And so I want to talk about these words in the context of passages. And I want to talk about them in highlight some things. So let's talk about the worry, the word concerned first Corinthians chapter seven verses 32 to 35.
00:27:28
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Now again, I've of course mentioned something to you earlier.
00:27:33
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I talked about an episode called handling concerns and episode 23. I encourage you to listen to that.
00:27:45
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I also want to talk about this. You know, concerns and worries differ primarily in the action and the focus, right? Concerns, in my in my opinion, is a constructive way of assessing things, but it's solution-based.
00:28:09
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It's solution-based because it's promoting... Action to address those specific problems at the moment.
00:28:21
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When we think about worrying.
00:28:25
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It's a emotional state. That it's developed through anxiety.
00:28:32
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That are often beyond our control. Again, concerns.
00:28:42
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are ways we can be constructive about what we're dealing with, which means it's solution-based. While worrying is an emotion that can be passive, it's a state of being that can create anxiety over things that are not within our control.
00:29:08
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So the passages that I've selected highlight things that in context explains to you how in one thing this is a constructive thing that leads to a solution versus this is an emotional state that you're currently in that creates anxiety.
00:29:30
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But this is not something that you have the ability to change. Okay, so understand what I just shared with you and understand the importance of how the passages correlate what I just articulated to you.
00:29:44
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So the first word is concern and I'm going to use the past is 1 Corinthians chapter 7 verses 32 to 35. It says, I would like you to be free from concern.
00:29:55
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An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs. How can he please the Lord? But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world. How can he please his wife? and his interests are divided.
00:30:11
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An unmarried woman or version is concerned about the Lord's affairs. Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world.
00:30:23
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How can she please her husband? I'm saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way and undivided devotion to the Lord.
00:30:35
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So what is this passage really saying? There are ways to adjust.
00:30:41
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There are ways to be mature about what's going on. There are ways to have solutions.
00:30:54
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If you're unmarried man concerned about the law's affairs,
00:30:59
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You have to adjust ways to go about pleasing the Lord. If you're a married man concerned about the affairs of the world, your job for being a provider, organizing, dealing with different personalities and attitudes,
00:31:17
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you have to learn how to be a man in this world to please your wife.
00:31:27
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And to deal with these challenges. And so you have to be constructive. And eventually you'll find a solution. This is prompting you.
00:31:39
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To address these specific issues.
00:31:44
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And same thing with a. Women who is unmarried, who is a virgin concerned about the Lord's affairs. who wants to devote herself to the Lord and a woman who is married
00:32:02
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and in married life wanting to be the best she can be in her home while also tending to her husband.
00:32:14
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These are things that you can be concerned about. But guess what? It's solution based. You can get advice. You can seek counsel.
00:32:27
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You can attempt to try different things. But the goal is you'll you want to be able to do the best that you can in those situations.
00:32:39
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That's life finding a balance. That's why I named this podcast episode, the space between or walking the middle path.
00:32:50
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There's a balance. And let's talk about the word worry. Remember worry is an emotional state when you're worrying and in that emotional state, anxiety.
00:33:05
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can cause you to think about things that are beyond your control.
00:33:13
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Remember concerns focus on the reality of things and how you can find reasons
00:33:27
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to see it be solvable. It's a problem that's solvable. Whereas worrying Are things that we dwell on. I would call those if scenarios. If this happens, then this happens. If this happens and that happens. Let's talk about this passage here. The gospel, Luke chapter 12, verses 25 to 31. It says, who are you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?
00:33:57
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Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Consider how the wildflowers grow, they do not labor or spend. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
00:34:12
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If that is how God clothes the grass of the fields, whereas is which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothes you of little faith?
00:34:25
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And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink. Do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things.
00:34:37
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And your father knows what you need.
00:34:41
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Before you ask them. But seek his kingdom and these things will be given to you as well.
00:34:52
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So.
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Worrying doesn't add years to your life.
00:35:05
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Just because you are emotionally unstable about something doesn't mean
00:35:20
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you have control over the time that you're stressing.
00:35:25
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This, my friend, is beyond your control.
00:35:31
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Can't do anything about it. This is why this passage is letting you know.
00:35:39
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That God is the one. That clothed. And fed nature.
00:35:55
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It also goes on to not set your heart on eating and drinking and gives an example that the pagans ran and did such things.
00:36:09
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But what this passage does do is it points us to his kingdom. Seek first the kingdom of God and these things will be given
Spiritual Focus
00:36:21
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to you. it's also in the passage in Matthew chapter six.
00:36:25
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Seek the kingdom of God and all of these things will be given to you.
00:36:33
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So I want to give you a couple of other passages of scripture that I think touch on
00:36:45
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several other different things. Oh, of course. One other word upset. Remember when we read the gospel of Luke chapter 10 verses 41 to 42. reread that quickly. But the Lord said to her, my dear Martha, you are worried and upset over these details. There is only one thing worth being concerned about.
00:37:06
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Mary has discovered it and it will not be taken away from her. Let's talk about the word upset.
00:37:16
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The word upset can be seen as a word that's closely related to anger.
00:37:27
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The word upset
00:37:31
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can easily be seen as a word that's very familiar with the word angry.
00:37:50
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The reason why I say that in some ways they can be seen as the same way is because they both promote a negative emotion.
00:38:05
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Now, when you think about it, the emotion that they both provide can lead to a reaction that can prompt different responses from the person that they're dealing with.
00:38:23
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When you think about angry, it's a strong, more active emotion that focuses
00:38:45
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will foster sadness, disappointment, which leaves them unsettled.
00:38:57
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Now the verses that are diverse that I want to use.
00:39:02
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It's found in James chapter the one verses 19 to 20 says, my dear brothers and sisters take note of this. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry because human anger does not produce the righteousness
00:39:25
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that God desires. Now,
00:39:31
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When we go back to Luke chapter 10, we read verse 41. But the Lord said to her, my dear Martha, you are worried and upset. Over all these details.
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So, of course, we can say Martha was disappointed, was emotionally unsettled. And why was she emotionally unsettled? Because her sister, Mary.
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decided to sit at the Lord's feet rather than help her. This is why and verse 40, when Martha was distracted by the big dinner and was preparing, she came to Jesus and said, Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while i do all the work?
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Tell her to come help me.
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When we read the passage in James chapter one verses 19 through 20,
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It talks about. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry. And again, the the word angry is a bit strong.
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Because God wants us to know.
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That to be angry is to be intense. And that intenseness is usually directed at someone or something which. Often is linked to feeling wrong.
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Which creates. A spirit of resentfulness.
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Right.
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And so. The biggest thing is that. God. Human anger is not something. That God. Desires for us.
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And so. The passage originally that I gave you in Luke chapter 10, verse 41 doesn't speak to anger. it speaks to being upset and there's levels to it.
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But there's several other passages that are going to link to this idea. and so i want you to see the distinction there between anger and upset.
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I do think that you can be upset without being angry.
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But you are usually upset when you are angry.
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Got that? I'll say it again. I believe you can be upset without being angry. But you're usually upset when you are angry.
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I also want to say being upset.
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You're able. to have. A manageable emotion. Again, disappointment, unsettledness.
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You can manage that. But when you're angry. It's much more extreme.
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When you're angry.
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I believe you feel wrong, you feel resentful.
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And when you're upset,
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you can become angry.
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And so James chapter 1 verse 19 through 20 says, everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.
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We should be upset, which can lead to anger. But we want to make sure that if we are upset, that is a more manageable emotion than when you are angry.
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Because when you're angry, that's about as as intense as you can be.
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Check out this. Look at this passage. Proverbs chapter 12 verses 25. It says anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down. But a good word makes him glad.
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I read that again. Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down. But a good word makes him glad.
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Philippians chapter 4, check this out. Philippians chapter 4, verse 6 through 7 says, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
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God is very intentional. And the reason why Paul is saying do not be anxious about anything.
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Is that Paul wants believers to transfer their anxieties to God because he cares for them. Right. This is why we get a passage in first first Peter. This is why we get a passage in first Peter chapter five or seven that says cast all anxieties on him.
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Because he cares for you. God wants us to trust him.
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Over worrying. He wants us to trust him more than we worry.
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This is why. if you read Matthew chapter six and you read verses 25 to 34. to thirtyfour He doesn't want us to worry about tomorrow.
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Highlighting the anxieties often stands for a lack of trust in God and his provision for you.
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But instead, God wants us to focus on the present. He wants to encourage us to focus on today's needs rather than borrowing trouble from what the future has to offer.
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it there a beautiful passage of songs, 34, four that says, I sought the Lord and he heard me and he delivered me from all my fears.
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Is another passage in Psalms 42 five that tells us a reminder to put hope in God when feeling downcast. Or disturbed.
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One of my favorite passages is the second Timothy, second Timothy, chapter one, verse seven, where it says, for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.
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You know, far you know, Psalms 56 three talks about when I am afraid. I put my trust in you. So, of course, anxiety is a common human experience.
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But I believe it should be met with with resilience. And that resilience is to trust and believe in God's strength rather than our own self-reliance.
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Two other passages that come to mind, Psalms 55, 22 says, give your burdens to the Lord and he will take care of you. And of course, one of my favorite passages, John 14, 27, peace I leave with you.
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My peace I give you. i do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
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Now there's a passage I want to revisit.
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Verse 42. It says there is one thing worth being concerned about.
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Mary has discovered it. And it would not be taken away from her. The question is what did Mary discover?
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Mary discovered the value and worth of Jesus words. His word.
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Created the heavens and earth. His word. Encourages us all when we pick it up. His word. Is what brings things that die back to life.
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His word.
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Is Jesus Christ. And so.
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Mary.
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Discovered.
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The door.
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The narrow door. That very few find. Mary discovered the way. The truth. And the life.
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And once Mary discovered it.
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Is a passage that says. And this is an amazing passage. If the son sets you free. You'll be free.
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Indeed. And what does the son set you free from? and That's obvious in my opinion. Sin. Shame.
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Death. When you decide to place your faith in him, you ultimately have eternal life, everlasting life.
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And that's because you chose the antidote that God has left for those who choose to be set free by choosing their savior who died on the cross for you and I. This is why Jesus says,
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There's one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it. And it will not be taken away from her. Her relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ will not be taken away from her.
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So I can go on much more about that particular portion. As a matter of fact, I can always give an extensive version of that verse and really, really talk about Jesus and what it means to discover Jesus. a matter of fact, in previous episodes, I talked about the importance that if you deny Jesus, what's going to happen?
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But when you find them, so much more amazing things will happen as a result to your association.
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So. My goal is to spark your curiosity. About the scriptures. And there is one more thing I do want to mention, and it'll probably be something that's disappointing if I don't talk about it.
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When Jesus says in verse 42, there is only one thing worth being concerned about. I think the question becomes, what should I be concerned about? There's a passage in Matthew chapter 7, verse 21 to 23. And in that passage, you know, Jesus warns that not everyone calling him Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven.
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And so I believe what Jesus is emphasizing there is the need for us to be obedient to what God's will is over the mere confessions that we may have or the works that we may do in concerning the kingdom of God.
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And what Jesus is saying is that many will claim to have performed miracles in honor of the Lord in his name. And yet he says,
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i will say, i would declare to you that I never knew you rejecting those who practice lawlessness. And so this is one of the scariest verses in the scripture.
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because it has you questioning, am I, am I a disciple of Christ?
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Right? Am I doing the will of the father?
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This also is about what I think a lot of us should desire to have and that's relationship with Christ. Remember Jesus emphasizes that we should have a personal relationship with him and that personal relationship has to do our knowledge of him.
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If we are in relationship with the Lord, he will not say, I never knew you. Okay.
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So that's the concern.
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And so I think Mary understood who Jesus was and what he was teaching. And I think it was more about listening and improving upon how she can be more Christ like.
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Right. But then again, like I said, there's more that I can get into. But I did want it to point that out before I went. So lessons that I think you can learn from this. Of course, like I said, these are separate messages that you can talk about.
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But I'm going to briefly share some with you. Things to spark your curiosity. I think this passage. really promotes Jesus welcoming women to be students.
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And of course, this challenges the cultural norms at the time. Another great story you should read is the story with Jesus' interaction with the women at the well.
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Another thing, or another theme that can be taken away from this Is your decision to achieve or your decision
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to address worldly tasks and concerns or spiritual nourishment to your souls? Are we going to prioritize the word of God?
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and our life and how that can shape and fasten us to respond accordingly, correctly, God-like, Christ-like? Or are we going to put more emphasis on tasks and concerns in the world when we know that our time here is temporary?
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Another thing that gets brought up here is is about service and presence.
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The presence of the Lord.
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And what that means in service.
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I also think a lesson here is about prioritizing what truly matters in life.
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I think one example that one thing that Christ does a phenomenal job at is gently or gently correcting the focus here.
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The focus here for Martha.
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Is not to be overwhelmed by what you're doing.
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That if you have to limit what it is that you're doing to accomplish what the overall goal is, you should.
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Another thing is one conversation with Jesus Christ can change your life. Perspective mindset with reading about Christ can be elevated.
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And last, I want to talk about eternal value, choosing the word over or above everything else.
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These are lessons and themes that came across my mind as I read it.
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As I reflect on verses 41 to 42, one other thing that comes to mind.
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The Lord said to her, my dear Martha, you're worried upset over these details. One thing I know about God is that God is not concerned about the details.
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He's concerned about the big picture. And when I talk about him not being concerned about the details, I think about how so much things happen in the details.
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Some may say the devil's in the details, growth development can happen in the details. And so God allows certain things to happen in your life so that you can sort them out.
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He's concerned about the big picture.
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All things working to the good of those who are called by the name of the Lord. I'm talking about Romans 8 28. He works them out. And some of us are so concerned about these details that we, we want to hold God accountable for things that are happening, not realizing that they're happening for a purpose.
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And if they're happening for a purpose, God is allowing it to happen to you so that you can learn from those very things. And so I want to close with this. I want to tell you this.
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I want to tell you that God is amazing. And he's so amazing that he sees past
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the things that we may think are irrelevant. And when I say he's past them, he's aware of them, but he knows that it shouldn't deter you from where you need to be or where need to end up.
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And so what we may think needs to be addressed, God understands that you think it needs to be addressed, but because he's God, he knows that that shouldn't stop your growth and where you eventually need to end up.
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And so I say, trust in the Lord with all your heart and all your mind and all your soul and your strength. I say embrace the suck, right? Anyone's ever worked out knows that when work out to a certain level, a lactic acid builds up. That a lactic acid is because the muscle is under tension, so much under tension, it hurts.
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But as you continue to get better at working You start to be able to tolerate that and what may hurt because you haven't worked certain muscle groups before.
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It won't hurt as much, but won't hurt at all because the muscle has been under tension, but so much that now is able to be tolerated. And we able to tolerate things, then you're able to move to the next level.
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And so God sees past all those things and eventually it's hoping and believing that you would catch up to realize that if you ponder on a little things,
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you won't get anywhere. But the most important thing is to embrace those little things and see how, if you were stuck on those little things, you wouldn't be where you are today.
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And so with that, I hope that what I shared with you was a blessing. It's just a perspective. It's just something to consider. Something to reflect upon. I'm sure there are many more different approaches to this text than what I've shared with you today.
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But my goal is just to present to you something that I came across and saw value in. And so my goal as a follower of Christ is to share with you and hope that you also will see the value of it.
Closing Prayer and Reflection
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And of course, always reach out to me. Let me know. Something I might have missed. Something that you saw. That could benefit.
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And I won't have an issue bringing you on. Or mentioning an email. What it is that you shared. That my listeners can greatly appreciate. So we close with prayer.
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Heavenly Father Lord in Jesus name. We thank you.
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for another opportunity, another chance to study your word. We thank you for all those who decided to press play today. Seize the value in what we share today and tell a brother or sister, blood related or within the body, the value and the importance of having a balance.
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Lord, we appreciate the spiritual aspect of your word. We appreciate the practicality of your word. Both have a way of shaping and fashion in the way that we see your word and how we can apply it.
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Thank you for all that you've done. Thank you for all that you will continue to do. And Lord, we honor you. We glorify you. We lift you up as not a God, but the God and finisher of our faith.
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Lord, we thank you. And we say this in Jesus name we pray. Amen. And until next time, let your eyes not depart from the word, but remain in it close and steadfast so that you can see what it is God has to say and how that what he has to say can be a blessing over your life.
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God bless. And I'll talk to you next time.
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Later.