By Brenda Jank
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.
“THUD” here as well. Thanks.
Steve
Amen, Brother.
His pursuit of our “pause” is constant. Standing invitation.
And the joy of the pause is bucket filling, lfe-giving, world changing!
Brenda, What a great post! Jesus, our King, and good shepherd, calls us to trust Him and give Him our time. Bless you for your ministry. Your Friend,
Thank you. Thank you.
God’s Word is precious and powerful and we are in this together – !
Bren,
You hit me hard with Martha. She was a doer and I have not credited her enough.
I’ll be sending you a verse I wrote about this couple years ago. Pop
The Greek word translated here for worried or anxious is Outline of Biblical Usage: to be anxious to be troubled with cares to care for, look out for (a thing) to seek to promote one’s interests caring or providing for
I love the second definition. To care for and seek to promote one’s interest gives us a hint that she wanted to take care of Jesus and wasn’t trying to be ungracious.
Betty,
I think you are spot on,
Thank you. This is very helpful today!
Thank you, thank you, thank you Lord – !