Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is necessary, and Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God says:
There are many things that need to be done in 2020 but there is only one thing that is absolutely necessary and the rest will follow.
Do you know what it is?
The answer to everything is in My Word so look there. It is the same yesterday, today and forever. The grass withers and the flower fades, but My Word remains forever. Isaiah 40:8. It is imperishable seed and once it proceeds out of My mouth it stands forever and will never return void but will achieve the purpose for which I sent it. 1 Peter 1:23-25; Isaiah 55:10-11.
My Son told you the one thing necessary many times but He quite clearly stated it to Martha, who was very busy and was quite anxious and concerned about many things. Does that sound like you? Then listen up and get things working together for good in your life.
If you recall, Martha and Mary were sisters and they lived with their brother Lazarus in Bethany just out of Jerusalem. My Son liked to visit their home and fellowship with them. But it was Mary who understood the heart of My Son. When He came to their home she sat at His feet like a disciple and listened to His Words. But Martha was too busy with the details of hospitality in the kitchen. She was upset and troubled that Mary did not help her but when she reprimanded her sister and Jesus in this, Jesus told her that only one thing was necessary and Mary had chosen the good part and it would not be taken away from her.
What had Mary done that was the good part and the only thing necessary? I would think you would very much want to know, because if you choose it, it cannot be taken away from you and it is the only thing required to have the good part of life.
Mary sat at My Son’s feet and listened to His Word. And you can do that too. Just open your Bible and read. The Holy Spirit testifies to Jesus and the true author of the entire Bible is none other than the Holy Spirit. John 15:26-27; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16. He knows My deepest thoughts and reveals them to you. 1 Corinthians 2:10-16. For all Jesus has is Mine and all I have is His. So the Holy Spirit takes what is His, which is Mine also, and shares it with you. John 16:14-15.
Mary had no New Testament to read as yet but she had the Word made flesh. And now I speak to you directly through My Son. You have the Old and the New Testament and they are filled with My Word, the very Word that became flesh and dwelt among you.
Are you taking advantage of the infinite riches of the imperishable seed that is in your very own Bible? Do you read it and ponder it in your heart? Do you do like Joshua and meditate on it day and night and speak it as if it were your own words? My Word in your mouth moves the angelic host to minister to you and carry out My Word. My Word in your mouth achieves the purpose for which I sent it in your life. My Word implanted in your heart has the power to save your souls.
So in 2020, spend time in My Word, which will attach you to the Vine as you let it remain in your richly, and you will bear fruit. And the measure of diligence you give it will determine the harvest you will reap. Sow generously and you will reap abundantly. Sow sparingly and you will reap sparingly. You determine the harvest.
My Word in your life makes all the difference between just getting by and the abundant life. Which do you want? It is up to you.
Jesus came to give you abundant life until it overflows. But if you recall He gives that abundant life to you as your good Shepherd. He leads you there. So the one thing required to find the abundant life Jesus promised is to follow where your good Shepherd leads you for He leads you to restful waters and makes you lie down in green pastures. He leads you in paths of righteousness and sets a table before you in the sight of your enemies. He anoints your head with oil and makes you kings and priests.
And how do you follow His lead? His sheep know His voice, He knows them and they follow Him. His voice. His voice is My Word. He never said anything but what I said for My Word is eternal life. John 12:49-50. He leads you by My Word. He is My Word and He is God. All the fullness of the Godhead resides in Him and He is My Word so you will find My fullness in My Word. Man does not live by bread alone but by every Word that comes from My mouth.
Be like Jeremiah. When he found My Words he devoured them, they became the joy and delight of his heart. Treasure My Word in your heart and you will not sin against Me. My Words are life to those who find them and health to all their flesh.
You need My Word as much as a fish needs water. There is no way you will thrive without it. It is the one thing necessary for you to live the life of abundance that Jesus came to give you. And He is My Word.
If you have not been reading and speaking My Word and listening to anointed teaching and preaching you are not going to thrive in 2020 unless you reconsider your ways and give priority to My Word. It is up to you. But if you neglect My Word do not whine and cry at Me at the end of the year saying that your condition has not improved. Many say they pray, go to Church, fast, and cry and do not understand why they are not getting the results they want. But they never really get into My Word except for a surface acquaintance with it, if that. The level of honor and importance you give to My Word in your life determines the quality of your life. It is that simple.
Take My Word into you richly and cultivate it by speaking it and doing whatever it tells you to do.
And My Son calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. He leads you out of hopelessness into hope. He leads you out of depression into joy. He leads you out of darkness into light. He leads you out of sickness into health. He leads you out of poverty into abundance. He leads you out of addiction into freedom. He leads you out of loneliness into companionship. He always leads you to something better than where you are.
Think of Moses and the children of Israel. I led them out of slavery, redeeming them with outstretched arm (and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed, Isaiah 53:1), but I did not just lead them out of slavery, I led them out of slavery into the promised land, a land of abundance, flowing with milk and honey.
And look at Joseph. He got sold into slavery and then prison but I did not just lead him out of prison but put him in a palace as the most powerful man in the Egyptian empire next to Pharaoh and he saved the entire Middle East and Africa from famine.
Look at Esther. She was taken as a prisoner of war and her parents had died in the battle so that she was in a foreign land as a captive and an orphan but I led her out of that into being the queen of that foreign land and saving her people from being extinguished.
Look at Ruth. She married a Jewish man and became a widow but then she followed her mother-in-law back to Israel facing a life of poverty and prejudice and I led her out of that to become a happy mother married to the richest man in Bethlehem and made her an ancestor of My Son in the flesh.
Look at Paul. He was a Pharisee of Pharisees, which seemed good, but I led him out of that to become something far better– the writer of two thirds of the New Testament and the preacher of the Gospel of Grace. Which is really the only Gospel.
Look at Mary. A mere unknown maiden in a small unprestigious town and I led her out to make her the mother of God in the flesh.
I could go on and on. If you want to go higher than where you are now, make 2020 your year to be led by your Good Shepherd and follow His voice every day all day. And where do you hear His voice? In My written Word called the Bible. Read it, speak it, ponder it, honor it, do it and love it, and it will guide you as you walk about, guard you when you lie down to sleep, counsel your heart in the night, and converse with you when you awake.
Find the passage that applies to your situation and read it outloud to yourself as if it is My Word to you, for it really is, and then look up at Me and smile as you say: “Behold the child of the Lord, let it be done to be according to your Word.”
One thing necessary. Seek the Kingdom and My way of righteousness and all else will be added to you. I am your righteousness and it has pleased Me to give you the Kingdom. But how do you receive that if you have never read My Word?
I love you. Read, speak and say My Word every moment of every day. Think on these things. Selah. 2020. Raise the tabernacle of praise. Start with the one thing necessary and sing it with joy. With joy you will draw water at the springs of salvation. You sow in tears but you reap with joy. Start rejoicing with My Word. He is anointed with the oil of gladness.