Mary > Martha

  Luke 10:38-42

"As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried about many things, but few things are needed -or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

     I have a love/hate relationship with this story. I love the simplicity of it. I love the message. I love that Jesus values the time we spend with Him... love it. What I hate about it is that I am a Martha.  And unfortunately, everything about Martha in this story is me in a nut shell. 

     I love to open up my home, invite people in and make sure everyone feels loved and welcome and cared for. It's pretty much my favorite thing ever.

        I work hard to have a clean and cozy space for people to come in and relax, rest, play games, eat good food, laugh a lot and enjoy each other. I love to cook and clean and serve and love on everyone that comes through my door. It fills me up to lavish my guests in every way I can. I admire that about Martha. She works hard, she cares deeply, she wants everyone to have a good time.  Martha is my girl!

     Here is where Martha and I both miss the point. Even though all of those things are so so so good. There is something even better. Recently, God has ben speaking to me as well...

"Rachel, Rachel, You are worried about too many things. 

Few things are actually needed; to be precise, only one. 

Me. 

All you need is Me.

 

I will help you accomplish what is necessary. Stop powering through in your own strength. 

I will fill your home with my Spirit; that is more precious and powerful than anything else you can offer your guests. 

I will fill you up with my love, so that you can love people with a miraculous love. 

You can accomplish more at my feet, 

listening to my voice, 

positioning your heart to love me and worship me, 

trusting me with your 'to do' list, 

letting me fill you up.... 

than any work you can do on your own.

My power, that fills your being, accomplishes an eternal work, 

which has infinate more value than what you can muster in your own strength. 

So, please. Sit here awhile. Let me fill you. Let me lavish love on you. Let me show you my power and strength. Let me show you that time with me is the best time spent.

I can do immeasurably more than you can ask or even imagine.

Let my priorities become your priorities and all your work will have eternal value, purpose, worth.

Nothing will be wasted.

You always choose the right thing when you choose me".

    The more that I listen to His voice, the more I long for time with Him, the more intimacy I crave, the deeper I dive into relationship with Him, the more I surrender. I am by nature a Martha, but my heart longs to be a Mary. I think God knows that and is gently calling me into a new season, 

a season of choosing Him first, saying yes to Him, jumping right in. I am anticipating a grand Spirit filled adventure. Want to come too? It starts at the feet of Jesus.