THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE
Our Lord Jesus spoke through Gary this week from Luke 10: 38-42. This is the story about Martha and Mary. Mary was taking the time to listen to Jesus as he taught while Martha was preoccupied by serving Jesus( food, beverage pillows??). Martha felt that Mary was not doing her share of the work. Jesus` reply was that Mary indeed had the proper priority in that first hear Jesus- then act.
So often we go about our lives and then somehow squeeze the Bible and Jesus in. With our priorities askance we have already done many things but without allowing Jesus to take the lead we inevitably fall into chaos and misdirection. To read the Bible and hear God`s word will guide us to proper actions. The Bible says put Jesus first and we will not be anxious and troubled.( Luke 10: 41-42)
Please allow me to take this cart before the horse analogy a step further. We are born of a culture. This "culture" defines our ways of thought and actions. Most readers here at Higher Grounds are of what we call a Judea-Christian culture that goes back many hundreds of years. I prefer to call it an "American" culture for it has evolved in the last couple centuries and is constantly evolving. We must understand that there are millions of Christians worldwide and many different cultures. When peoples of different backgrounds read God`s word there is a tendency to imbue the interpretation with the background that reared the readers. Many will not get the true meaning of Christ because they get the cart before the horse-they read the Bible in the context of their own preconceived ideas. In fact, many people choose a church, not on the basis of Biblical teachings but what they ALREADY believe. They then contort Jesus` teachings into this belief.
We must read what Jesus is teaching outside of our own cultures. This is NOT easy but to not do this is getting the cart before the horse.
I don`t have a provocative question this week as I wish all to ponder what has been said.
Y`all have a great week which will certainly be easier by putting our priorities in Christ`s teachings first!!
3 comments:
dont you think, hearing/learning Gods word can be second to having a relationship with him. I mean shouldnt the first priority be just accepting him?....then maybe check out Bible throughout our lives??
Just want to know.
yes, Jesus comes first!!
'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" John 1:1
I am not sure we can seperate God from His Word. Scripture tells us that the Word IS God. Getting into Gods Word (hearing it and reading it) is the best way to really get to KNOW Him. Just something to think about.
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