Luke 10:38-39 "...and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word"
There is a difference between intimacy and familiarity. I may be familiar with the condition and circumstances in which another commonly walks, but have very little real intimacy with himself - as in the case of servants. And this has its strong illustration in the history of the Lord. The centurion (Matthew 8:5-14), the Syrophenician (Mark 7:24-30), or Mary the sister of Lazarus (John 11:1-44), were comparatively but little with Him. They are not seen in company with Him wherever He goes, but cross His path, to say the most, only occasionally. But when they are brought to deal with Him, they do so with most bright and blessed intelligence. They show that they know Him - who and what He really is. They make no mistakes about Him, while even the apostles who waited on Him day after day betrayed again and again the ignorance and distance of mere nature.
Is there not a lesson in this for us? Is there not a fear lest familiarity with the things of Christ be much more than the soul's real acquaintance with Himself? I may be often, so to speak, handling these things. I may be reading the books which tell of Him. I may be busy in the activities which make His service their object. I may speak or write about Him, while others, like the centurion, may be a good deal withdrawn from all this; but their growth in divine knowledge and living understanding of Him may be far more advancing. J.G. Bellett [1795-1864]
***
*Matthew 25:11-13 'Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh'
[note: Don't believe in the imminent return of the the Saviour Christ Jesus? - you'll need to cross out Mt. 25:13...that part about 'watching']
See also: The midnight cry and the ten virgins - CHM
~~~
Done any sitting at his feet lately?
_____________________________________________
There is a difference between intimacy and familiarity. I may be familiar with the condition and circumstances in which another commonly walks, but have very little real intimacy with himself - as in the case of servants. And this has its strong illustration in the history of the Lord. The centurion (Matthew 8:5-14), the Syrophenician (Mark 7:24-30), or Mary the sister of Lazarus (John 11:1-44), were comparatively but little with Him. They are not seen in company with Him wherever He goes, but cross His path, to say the most, only occasionally. But when they are brought to deal with Him, they do so with most bright and blessed intelligence. They show that they know Him - who and what He really is. They make no mistakes about Him, while even the apostles who waited on Him day after day betrayed again and again the ignorance and distance of mere nature.
Is there not a lesson in this for us? Is there not a fear lest familiarity with the things of Christ be much more than the soul's real acquaintance with Himself? I may be often, so to speak, handling these things. I may be reading the books which tell of Him. I may be busy in the activities which make His service their object. I may speak or write about Him, while others, like the centurion, may be a good deal withdrawn from all this; but their growth in divine knowledge and living understanding of Him may be far more advancing. J.G. Bellett [1795-1864]
***
*Matthew 25:11-13 'Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh'
[note: Don't believe in the imminent return of the the Saviour Christ Jesus? - you'll need to cross out Mt. 25:13...that part about 'watching']
See also: The midnight cry and the ten virgins - CHM
~~~
Done any sitting at his feet lately?
_____________________________________________
No comments :
Post a Comment