Friday, August 16, 2013
Luke 10:41-42 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
CHARACTERISTICS OF JESUS' WORD
When Mary sat down at Jesus' feet to listen to His word, the Lord told her she had chosen the "one thing needed." What is it about Christ's word that makes it so unique and so special to us? Consider:
1) Jesus' word does not pass away. Jesus' message to us, His word, including words of guidance, direction, or promise, will never be lost or forgotten. All other things will come and go, but His words to us in the Scriptures will always remain and will always stand true. Jesus said (Matthew 24:35), "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." The prophet Isaiah said the same (40:8): "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."
2) Jesus' word leads to everlasting life. We know that those who trust in Jesus to raise them from the dead and give them new life forever in a new creation will receive those very blessings. We know that God gave His Son Jesus Christ into death, that whoever believes that Jesus paid the price for their sins will receive eternal life. We are saved by faith, by trusting in what Jesus has done and in what He promises for our futures. Paul and Silas told the jailer, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." And the tool God uses to create this faith in us and lead us to life forever is His word (Romans 10:17).
3) Jesus word gives us true perspective. When we have Jesus' word, we understand why the world is the way it is. We see why there is disease and destruction, why there is sorrow and sadness. We understand the real reason there are wars and terrorists. We even know the reason for various physical changes and formations in the earth and can explain them while unbelieving scientists stand around befuddled, scratching their heads in confusion. For Jesus' word gives us a proper perspective on everything. His word is the foundation for a correct worldview: that God created our world, that it has been corrupted by our evil and is doomed to destruction, and that we count on His forgiveness and look forward to a new place. By Jesus' word we can see things the way they really are.
