Friday, March 26, 2010

Martha and Mary

38Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. 40But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” 41But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

It's the classic story, someone works harder than the others and then wants the ones that aren't working as hard to get up and DO SOMETHING! Jesus tells Martha that Mary's way is better...and we think to ourselves "seriously?!" She was lazy, we think (we would never say it out loud), Martha was in charge of the house and hospitality was essential for good dischipleship....no fair, we think. But it comes back to something so simple...and so important all over again. We talked about it just yesterday!

The key is not to focus on how others do or don't live, the key is to do our very best in the moments that we have to honor and follow Christ. Martha isn't scolded for her excellent hospitality, she is missing the big picture of pausing and focusing her attention on Christ, not on what Mary does or doesn't do.

Can you take a moment today to pause and focus on Christ? Focus on the sacrifice that Christ made for us? Maybe if we can do this we will be able to see more clearly the incredibly blessings that are all around us, just waiting for us to enjoy them.

Peace to you.

1 comment:

  1. But then, when their brother dies, shortly before Jesus brings him back to life, Martha has a fantastic moment of clarity and makes an awesome confession of faith...

    ...so she, too, has some great focus on Christ...

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