1. Song Numbers 1

2. Everybody Has A Bad Day Now & Then 2

3. We all have a bad day from time to time – no one is exempt In this lesson we are able to look at one Bible character who seemed to be having a bad day – at least for a while 3

4. What do you remember about Martha – sister of Lazarus and Mary? 4

5. I. When Martha had a bad day 5

6. The day started off just fine - Lk. 10:38-39 [38] Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. [39] And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word 6

7. As they went = Jesus and His disciples Certain village = Bethany Jn. 11:1 [1] Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 7

8. Martha received him into her house = “Martha welcomed Him into her house” (ESV) 8

9. Mt. 8:20 [20] And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 9

10. Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet listening to what He said Acts 22:3 [3] I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel 10

11. The day takes a bad turn – Lk. 10:40 [40] But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 11

12. Cumbered = draw away, distract – being ever occupied about a thing 12

13. Lk. 10:40 “But Martha was distracted with much serving,” (NKJV) “But Martha was distracted with all her preparations;” (NASB) 13

14. In her mind these preparations “had” to be made Very often, our bad days start off with unreasonable expectations, not in the minds of others - but in our own mind 14

15. We may often say – “Some things just have to be done” 15

16. “Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me” = she now brings her frustration to Jesus 16

17. II. Martha learns a valuable lesson 17

18. Lk. 10:41-42 41] And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: [42] But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. 18

19. [41] And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. [42] “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” 19

20. Careful (worried) and troubled = shows inward anxiety and outward turmoil or trouble One thing is needful = teaches us the need to set the right priorities 20

21. Jesus is teaching that some things are more important than other things ---- we must keep our eye on what is most important in life 21

22. Mt. 6:33 [33] But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 22

23. That good part = continuing to listen to Jesus and what He was teaching would not be taken away from Mary 23

24. For us – putting God first in our lives is that “good part” 24

25. 2 Pet. 3:10-12 [10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 25

26. [11] Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 26

27. [12] Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 27

28. III. When we have bad days 28

29. 1. We need to realize that we all have them now and then 2. We need to beware of the tendency to blame others for our bad days 3. Remember – there are consequences to the way we react to what happens to us 29

30. 4. Determine to learn from the bad days what is really important in life 5. One bad day is not the last word in our lives – unless we make it so 30

31. The thought for this lesson and some of the points taken from article on Truth for Today (biblecourses.com) 31