What an incredible Father we have who invites us to be up close and personal with Him.
Mary sets a great example of what being up close and personal with Jesus looks like in Luke 10: 38 – 42 – Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Jesus and His disciples were travelling, and they came into the village of Bethany. Martha welcomed them into her house and began serving them, washing feet, taking coats, getting tea/coffee, making food, serving, a great godly thing to do, a thing that needs to be done!
But in these verses, we see Martha finding herself in the wrong place:
- She got distracted with much serving – her head was going fast, the to-do list was top of the agenda, wash feet, make food, bring more chairs in – frantic, panic, get the next thing done, no time for breaks!
- She must have gotten frustrated, thinking why is Mary not helping me, here’s me slaving away, getting all this work done and Mary won’t even help, Mary come on.
Mary was seemingly sitting and doing nothing. Martha was maybe trying to hint at Mary with the odd look, and a cough, but she couldn’t get her attention.
- Her distraction led her to speak and ask for the wrong thing from Jesus at that moment – Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.
Jesus responds, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luk 10:41-42 NKJ)
Jesus’ visit which should have been a blessing for Martha, His visit which was an invitation for intimacy for her, was missed because she had other things, good things, going on in her mind. Martha teaches us that:
*The busy can take the place of the best.
*The next thing can take the place of the most important thing.
*The work can sometimes take the place of the walk and the worship.
Of course, we need to work, serve, and get things done! But we can be so busy and distracted that we act a bit like Martha in this passage. It wasn’t that Martha shouldn’t serve, it was just Mary discerned better what the heart of Jesus was at that moment.
Jesus wanted them both close, He had words to give, and wanted them still before Him, He desired a Godly intimate moment. Mary got it, simply wanted to draw from Him at that moment. What a lesson and encouragement from Mary for us.
Father, help us to seek and see You in every moment. Lord, we want to experience those intimate moments sitting at Your feet, those precious parts that won’t be taken away. Lord, let our relationship with You grow and deepen. Let us hear Your truth and be filled afresh with Your love. Amen.