Don't feel bad, hon. I have the heart of a Mary but the nervous reactions of a Martha. I think most Marthas are like that. We have the same heart as a Mary, we just get all skittered in the head over things. I don't read Jesus' answer to Martha as a total rebuke either, but as comfort. Remember He said, "You are anxious and troubled about many things." Think of Him saying that kindly, with understanding in His eyes, and then when He says "Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken from her," see that as Him inviting you to do so as well! He's saying, "I know this is what you really want -- so come join us, and fear not that I will think any less of you for it."

In other words, He is saying, "It's OK to relax with Me."

There is another factor here...what is Jesus really like..but for the most part...those who are in the know have clues as to their honest attitude toward Jesus.

I am elaborating on the SS thread.

I pasted a quote from Monday.

JOHN 15
"18": If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

"19": If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

"20": Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

"21": But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

"22": If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.

"23": He that hateth me hateth my Father also.

"24": If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

"25": But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

Think of the queen in Snow White hating Snow White and becoming a witch and killing her

True JimBob, but remember also that the world hates other things besides Jesus. In general the world hates a braggart, a boaster, a self-righteous stuck-up egotist, and any number of overweening and overmuchly visible objectionable traits in others that members of said "world" freely tolerate in moderation in themselves. Thus persecution alone is insufficient grounds for considering oneself in such noble service to the Master as to warrant a fulfillment of the above verses in his own experience thereof. One must of necessity examine oneself thoroughly and objectively in the matter to see whether there be fault in the messenger which eclipses the message.

But you and I, we've been through that
And this is not our fate
So let us not talk falsely now
The hour's getting late.

True, however you are on a tangent.

There is deception in the church regarding the gospel that is due to shallow soteriology...and it is connected to enmity and that enmity is in the same places as it always has been.

That enmity is what results in lack of reverence, NFDMTTS, and spiritual apathy.

Quote:

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In other words, He is saying, "It's OK to relax with Me."

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Sometimes hard to remember that when things are pushing in from all sides but yes you are right

(and today has been an OK one)

I was just reminded of another scripture: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28. I guess He really wants us to be at ease with Him!

Rest..

He does...but how? and what does come unto Him mean?
and why does the Holy Spirit inspire Matthew to put these words right before a major sabbath encounter in chapter 12?

Other non Christian persuasion demonstrate their animosity toward God by depersonalizing Him..saying that God is energy.

Christianity goes down a similar path by depersonalizing what the gospel is about.

When soteriology is emphasized with accounting and legal terms it is depersonalized.

When expiation is related to wrath and and a Godly attitude adjustment..then it is depersonalized.