Are you a Mary or a Martha?

I’m backkkkkkk! So I have been suffering from MAJOR writer's block this summer, but FINALLY something has hit me that I feel led to write about.

The other day during my quiet time I stumbled across a small passage of scripture that I feel is probably overlooked by many. I had already done my daily devotion, but it just didn’t seem to satisfy me. I felt like I needed to look a little further. I decided to just flip through my Bible and see what I could find. This is the passage that caught my eye:

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 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!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

- Luke 10:38-42

I had read this passage of scripture before, but it looked untouched in my Bible, lacking any pen or highlighter marks. Being a mere five verses sitting in between all of the eye-catching parables and miracles told and performed by Jesus, I can see where I had, for the most part, overlooked it.  But on this day, for some reason, it stood out to me.

I read it a couple of times and started to feel a connection with Martha. I saw a lot of myself in her. Lately, I have been struggling with the concept of just “sitting at the Lord’s feet.” I have a tendency to get distracted, like Martha, when it comes to serving the Lord.  You see, Mary and Martha both loved Jesus, and they were both eager to serve Him. But in the midst of her hustle and bustle to clean the house for Jesus, and fix Jesus a good meal, Martha lost sight of what it really means to serve Jesus. You see, Jesus really didn’t care if the house was clean, or if she fixed steak instead of Hamburger Helper. Jesus told Martha that only one thing mattered, and Mary had gotten it right.

How many times do we get so busy doing things FOR Jesus that we forget to spend any time WITH Him?

Jesus wasn’t upset with Martha for being concerned about the household and His comfort, but He was asking her to check her priorities.

This passage was very personal to me. I see so much of myself in Martha, as I try so hard every day to please the Lord. The irony of it all is while I am trying so hard to “please” Him, I am actually denying myself the true peace and wisdom that comes from just sitting at His feet and listening. This really opened my eyes to the fact that I just need to chill out a little bit. While it’s good that I have such a desire in my heart to please the Lord, I can see how I have started putting too much emphasis on the service, instead of on the One I’m supposed to be serving.

 

So who are you? Are you a Mary...or a Martha?

I pray that this has touched your heart in some way. Maybe, like me, you feel a lot like Martha. If so, I just want you to be encouraged. It’s a blessing to have a servant’s heart, but don’t let yourself forget who you are serving. Train yourself to slow down sometimes and take the time to just sit and listen.

Maybe this didn’t specifically touch your heart, but you know someone who might struggle with this. Feel free to share this with them! It’s always comforting to know that you’re not alone in your struggles.

 

It’s good to be back to in the blogging world, and I look forward to posting future blogs. I would like to ask for prayer for me and the 32 other team members of the FBC Ashland Honduras Mission Team as we prepare to leave in 12 days! I plan on posting another blog with more details before we leave, but please go ahead and start praying for that!

Thanks for reading!

Hannah ♥