Are you familiar with the story of Mary and Martha? Does your mind automatically conclude that Mary is good and Martha is bad? That is incorrect. Martha was serving me, after all. It isn’t like she was idle or causing trouble. And it wasn’t for this that I gently chided her. It was when she tried to enlist my assistance to compel her sister to help her. Good works are still good and commendable. You have your own assignments, and others have theirs. No man (or woman) can serve two masters, so other people cannot serve me and you. Be content to do the work I have given you, which is not too much for you, and let others do theirs.

I was a stranger and you took me in. When you have done it unto the least of these you have done it unto me. Do you practice hospitality? Some have entertained angels unawares. Do you realize that not all hospitality occurs in your home? How welcoming are you when you are in a group of familiar friends and someone new comes along. Put yourself in their place. You have been an outsider yourself in unfamiliar situations. You have a choice to make a newcomer feel welcome and at ease, or not. This too is an expression of hospitality. Do unto others as you would have done unto you.

You are aware that you should not tell a lie. If you do not speak anything that is untrue, could there still be a problem? Can you live a lie without speaking one? Which of these is worse? If your manner of life is inconsistent with your beliefs and values what term would you use to describe it? If you keep secrets and no one inquires about them, is that honest or not? You are not required to tell everything to everyone. Only a fool utters all his mind. But I gave you a conscience  to direct you in the path of truth so you know when your actions are not what they should be.

What is one of the most valuable traits in produce? Stores are eager to claim that their tomatoes and other vegetables and fruits are vine ripened. Gardeners will tout the same quality in the things they grow. Do you recall my statement to my followers that I am the vine and they are the branches, and I told them to abide in the vine. You may think of your maturing in the faith as being similar to ripening. You are not your own redemption project, but mine. You will not complete the good work I have begun in you, but I will. If you abide in me then you too will be vine ripened.