Sitting @ The Feet Of Jesus: We Are Instructed Series

Sitting @ the Feet of Jesus: We are instructed!

Luke 10:38 – 42

There were two old geezers living in the backwoods of the Ozarks: Rufus and Clarence.

They lived on opposite sides of the river and they hated each other. Every morning, just after sunup, Rufus and Clarence would go down to their respective sides of the river and yell at each other.

"Rufus!" Clarence would shout, "You better thank your lucky stars that I can’t swim, er I’d swim this river and whup you!"

"Clarence!" Rufus would holler back, "You better thank YOUR lucky stars that I can’t swim, er I’d swim this river and whup YOU!"

Every morning. Everyday. For 20 years.

One day the Army Corps of Engineers came along and built a bridge. But the insults went on every morning. Everyday. Another five years.

Finally, Mr. Rufus’ wife had had enough. "Rufus!" she squallered one day, "I can’t take no more! Every day for 25 years you’ve been threatenin’ to whup Clarence. Well, thar’s the bridge! Have at it!"

Rufus thought for a moment. Chewed his bottom lip for another moment.

"Woman!" he declared, snapping his suspenders into place. "I’m gonna whup Clarence!"

He walked out the door, down to the river, along the river bank, came to the bridge, stepped up onto the bridge, walked about halfway over the bridge, then turned tail and ran screaming back to the house, slammed the door, bolted the windows, grabbed the shotgun and dove under the bed.

"Rufus!" cried the missus. "I thought you was gonna whup Clarence!"

"I was, woman, I was!" he whispered.

"What in tarnation is the matter?"

"Well," whispered the terror-stricken Rufus, "I walked halfway over the bridge and saw a sign that said, “’Clearance, 13 feet, 6 inches.’ He ain’t never looked that big from the other side of the river!"

Now that I have your attention, more anything this evening, I want us to understand that there is an opportunity that I don’t want you to miss out on. There is an opportunity so wonderful and grand, that if you were to enter into the door that has been opened up to you it will change your life. It is such an amazing opportunity, that many of you may be thinking it is too good to be true. Let us take a few moments to consider God’s word and the opportunity that He is offering up to all takers, to every man, woman, and child who will simply follow the example of one of the characters in our story this evening.

Luke 10:38-42

38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40But 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, 42but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

As a minister was addressing a group of men, he took a large piece of paper and made a black spot in the center of it with a marking pen. Then he held the paper up before the group and asked them what they saw. One person quickly replied, "I see a black mark."

"Right," the preacher replied. "What else do you see?" Complete silence prevailed. "Don’t you see anything other than the black spot?" he asked. A chorus of "No" came from the audience. "I’m surprised," the speaker commented. "You have overlooked the most important thing of all - the sheet of paper."

Then he made the application.

a) In life we are often distracted by small disappointments, and we forget the innumerable blessings we receive from the Lord.

b) But, like the sheet of paper, the good things in life are overwhelmed by the adversities that monopolize our attention

1. Missed opportunity

a. Martha has invited Jesus and His disciples into her home.

i. It is important to note, that it was Martha who extended the invitation to Jesus, because of what ensues.

ii. Such an invitation is designed for fellowship and to learn about your guest.

iii. It is an opportunity to know your guest better and draw closer to them.

1. I truly believe that this was Martha’s intent.

2. She wanted the opportunity to draw closer to the Lord and to learn more about Him and from Him.

3. She has encountered the life and ministry of Jesus and wants to invite Him into her life.