Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. John 11:5
These words (especially the first three), and the order in which they were written, leaped out and landed in my heart.
Thud.
I would have expected Mary, Martha’s sister, to be the first one listed. You know, the one who sat at Jesus’ feet. I raced to Luke 10. Here, I was reminded it was Martha who first initiated the relationship this sibling group of three had with Jesus.
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to them. Luke 10:38
Martha.
She was a doer. An initiator. A mover and a shaker. Martha made things happen. Good things.
She saw opportunities, seized the moment, opened doors. Once Jesus accepted Martha’s invitation, she moved into overdrive. I imagine her home teeming with people. I sense in her a desire to connect others with the One who captured her heart. Martha was on a mission.
Are you?
Am I?
Do I see opportunities? Seize the day? Open doors?
Jesus loved Martha…
He loved her enough to speak hard words to her.
Truth.
Truth that makes us all squirm, blush, reel.
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,
but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken
away from her.” Luke 10:41-42
Words spoken with love … and an invitation to rhythm.
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I think of the rich young ruler who asked “what more should I do?” The answer one thing is needed. The man went away sorrowful. Martha, too, was doing all the right things, but one thing was needed. Apparently she got it and ran with it. Rest! As I think on this, I have to equate rest with trust. If we say “no” or if we pull back to spend time with Him, do we trust Him to accomplish what is needed. Will the house get clean, the food be prepared, the bills paid….if we take time with Him. The answer is “yes”, but it is so hard to trust God with the daily in our lives. It’s like tithing, will 90% cover what 100% never did. God says test Me on this. He says test Me on resting too. He know what we most need and He will provide.
Amen! Amen! He is faithful beyond what we can often comprehend.
Betty, He KNOWS what we need and He will provide!