Call to Gather, Pray and Worship God
Psalm 32:8-11
I will instruct you and teach you
in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the Lord’s unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts in him.
Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Today’s blessing comes in partnering with God by trusting Him, not being stubborn (like the mule) but controllable without a bit and bridle? Pray for this blessing in God for you and others.
Today's Scripture Story
Our Scripture story is brought up earlier this week in Tuesday’s Immersion material. The event happens in the home of Mary and Martha, sisters to Lazarus whom Jesus raised from the dead. There is an interesting parallel between today’s story and the one found in Luke 10:38-41. In both instances we find Martha moving about in service to Jesus. And in both instances, we find Mary at the feet of Jesus.
The first one (in Luke) has Mary sitting and listening to Him teach. With Mary facing criticism from Martha about serving, Jesus points out that Mary has chosen “what is better.” In the second event, a dinner held in Jesus’ honor, Mary is not just sitting but is anointing Jesus’ feet. Here too Mary faces criticism from others but finds herself defended by Jesus again. Read and learn the story well enough so that you are able to share it with someone else when the Spirit prompts you to do so.
John 12:1-11
Jesus anointed
by Mary at Bethany
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
Luke 10:38-41
At the Home of Martha and Mary
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Journal Prompt:
How are you similar to Mary in the stories?
How are you different?
Prayer
Father God, there is much to learn from Mary’s example, but even more to learn from You – both in Your example and in Your teaching. Mary’s family honored You with a dinner, with service, and with attentiveness to Your presence. Mostly they honored You by believing in You as Lord and becoming Your followers. How can I honor You in my life? Show me I pray – in Your name. Amen.
2 Corinthians 5:14-21
The
Great Sending
Word of the Day
2 Corinthians
5:14-21
14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.