Spurgeon Meditations

 

Martha was cumbered about much serving.

Luk 10 40

Her fault was not that she served: the condition of a servant well becomes every Christian. "I serve should be themotto of all the princes of the royal family of heaven. Nor wasit her fault that she had much serving." We cannot do too much. Let us do all that we possibly can; let head and heart and hands be engaged in the Master's service. It was no fault of hers that she was busy preparing a feast for the Master. Happy Martha to have an opportunity of entertaining so blessed a guest; and happy too to have the spirit to throw her whole soul so heartily into the engagement. Her fault was that she grew "cumbered with much serving so that she forgot Him,and only remembered the service. She allowed service to overridecommunion, and so presented one duty stained with the blood ofanother. We ought to be Martha and Mary in one: we should domuch service, and have much communion at the same time. For thiswe need great grace. It is easier to serve than to commune.Joshua never grew weary in fighting with the Amalekites; butMoses, on the top of the mountain in prayer, needed two helpersto sustain his hands. The more spiritual the exercise, thesooner we tire in it. The choicest fruits are the hardest torear: the most heavenly graces are the most difficult tocultivate. Beloved, while we do not neglect external things,which are good enough in themselves, we ought also to see to itthat we enjoy living, personal fellowship with Jesus. See to itthat sitting at the Saviour's feet is not neglected, even thoughit be under the specious pretext of doing Him service. The firstthing for our soul's health, the first thing for His glory, andthe first thing for our own usefulness, is to keep ourselves inperpetual communion with the Lord Jesus, and to see that thevital spirituality of our religion is maintained over and aboveeverything else in the world.% 01/25/PM Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea we establish the law." --Romans 3:31 When the believer is adopted into the Lord's family his relationship to old Adam and the law ceases at once; but then he is under a new rule and a new covenant. Believer you are God's child; it is your first duty to obey your heavenly Father. A servile spirit you have nothing to do with: you are not a slave but a child; and now inasmuch as you are a beloved child you are bound to obey your Father's faintest wish the least intimation of His will. Does He bid you fulfil a sacred ordinance? It is at your peril that you neglect it for you will be disobeying your Father. Does He command you to seek the image of Jesus? It is not your joy to do so? Does Jesus tell you Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is inheaven is perfect ? Then not because the law commands but because your Saviour enjoins you will labour to be perfect in holiness. Does He bid his saints love one another? Do it not because the law says Love thy neighbour, but because Jesus says If ye love Me, keep My commandments; and this is the commandment that He has given unto you that ye love oneanother. Are you told to distribute to the poor? Do it not because charity is a burden which you dare not shirk but because Jesus teaches Give to him that asketh of thee. Does the Word say Love God with all your heart ? Look at the commandment and reply Ah! commandment, Christ hath fulfilledthee already--I have no need, therefore, to fulfill thee for mysalvation, but I rejoice to yield obedience to thee because Godis my Father now and He has a claim upon me, which I would notdispute. May the Holy Ghost make your heart obedient to the constraining power of Christ's love that your prayer may be Make me to go in the path of Thy commandments; for therein doI delight. Grace is the mother and nurse of holiness and not the apologist of sin.


First page | Prev | Next | Last page |