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 and upset 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.” Luke 10:38-42
As I shopped recently at a local department store for some early Christmas gifts, I entered the check-out line to pay. Normally, I would have felt impatient to stand in the line, but that day, I felt strangely at peace. I was in the moment, not wishing I were done and back in the car, not mentally going over my to-do list of all the things I could be doing but were not. The supernatural peace ruling in my heart must have reflected on my face. When I finally made it to the check-out counter, the clerk remarked at how calm I was. Used to seeing frazzled shoppers, I’m sure she viewed me as an anomaly. I was, even to me.
Today’s key verses contain a familiar story of two sisters who host Jesus in their home. Martha is stirring around in the kitchen, resenting the lack of help from her sister. Mary is quietly sitting at Jesus’ feet, absorbing all He is teaching. When Martha charges into the room and abruptly demands Jesus to ask her sister to help, she assumes Jesus will be on her side. Instead, Jesus chastises Martha for not taking time out to learn from Him, to grow her own spiritual life, and to set the appropriate priorities. All the while, Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, listening to truths taught. By sitting at His feet, Mary demonstrates she is submitting to His guidance. Her faith and love of her Lord, Jesus says, cannot be taken away from her (see also Romans 8:38-39 which says nothing can separate us from God’s love).
In this busy season of the year, there are many tasks at hand, from shopping to wrapping, from cooking to entertaining. While none of these things are wrong in and of themselves, the frantic and frenzied pace robs us of peace. At the end of the day, we’re physically exhausted as we mentally beat ourselves up for what we didn’t get accomplished that day. We are more focused on remaining tasks than relationships.
Psalm 143:8 is a key verse for me, one that I read every morning as I spend time with God. It says, “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” As I read God’s Word, the Bible, His love for me becomes real. When I put my trust in Him and choose to follow Him, He shows me not only my path for life’s journey, but He also reveals what my priorities are for today. I can trust Him with the way I should go today and with my whole life.
Pondering the story of Martha and Mary, I know I tend to be a “Martha”. I’m naturally task-oriented. I’m usually too busy “doing” and not spending time “being”. On the day God used a store clerk to get my attention, I realized that spending time with Jesus allowed His peace to reign in my heart, so much so, that a stranger noticed. While I missed the opportunity to tell her about the source of my peace (an obvious opportunity, in hindsight), the opportunity to connect the dots wasn’t entirely lost. It was a growth opportunity for me, to better understand and apply the connection between Martha and Mary. When the “Mary” in me sits at Jesus’ feet each morning, the “Martha” in me is able to be the hands of Jesus to better accomplish what is truly important throughout my day. When I spend time with Jesus, I’m empowered to take His peace and love with me, reflecting a deeper calm while demonstrating His love to those I encounter along the way.
Lord, thank You for the lessons learned from two sisters who both loved You. May I learn from them and put into practice that balance between faith and works, of being and doing. Create in me a desire to spend more time with You to discern my priorities so that the peace from knowing You reflects in all I do throughout my day. Amen.
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Text and photograph copyright © 2017 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of woodland path near Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
As I shopped recently at a local department store for some early Christmas gifts, I entered the check-out line to pay. Normally, I would have felt impatient to stand in the line, but that day, I felt strangely at peace. I was in the moment, not wishing I were done and back in the car, not mentally going over my to-do list of all the things I could be doing but were not. The supernatural peace ruling in my heart must have reflected on my face. When I finally made it to the check-out counter, the clerk remarked at how calm I was. Used to seeing frazzled shoppers, I’m sure she viewed me as an anomaly. I was, even to me.
Today’s key verses contain a familiar story of two sisters who host Jesus in their home. Martha is stirring around in the kitchen, resenting the lack of help from her sister. Mary is quietly sitting at Jesus’ feet, absorbing all He is teaching. When Martha charges into the room and abruptly demands Jesus to ask her sister to help, she assumes Jesus will be on her side. Instead, Jesus chastises Martha for not taking time out to learn from Him, to grow her own spiritual life, and to set the appropriate priorities. All the while, Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, listening to truths taught. By sitting at His feet, Mary demonstrates she is submitting to His guidance. Her faith and love of her Lord, Jesus says, cannot be taken away from her (see also Romans 8:38-39 which says nothing can separate us from God’s love).
In this busy season of the year, there are many tasks at hand, from shopping to wrapping, from cooking to entertaining. While none of these things are wrong in and of themselves, the frantic and frenzied pace robs us of peace. At the end of the day, we’re physically exhausted as we mentally beat ourselves up for what we didn’t get accomplished that day. We are more focused on remaining tasks than relationships.
Psalm 143:8 is a key verse for me, one that I read every morning as I spend time with God. It says, “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” As I read God’s Word, the Bible, His love for me becomes real. When I put my trust in Him and choose to follow Him, He shows me not only my path for life’s journey, but He also reveals what my priorities are for today. I can trust Him with the way I should go today and with my whole life.
Pondering the story of Martha and Mary, I know I tend to be a “Martha”. I’m naturally task-oriented. I’m usually too busy “doing” and not spending time “being”. On the day God used a store clerk to get my attention, I realized that spending time with Jesus allowed His peace to reign in my heart, so much so, that a stranger noticed. While I missed the opportunity to tell her about the source of my peace (an obvious opportunity, in hindsight), the opportunity to connect the dots wasn’t entirely lost. It was a growth opportunity for me, to better understand and apply the connection between Martha and Mary. When the “Mary” in me sits at Jesus’ feet each morning, the “Martha” in me is able to be the hands of Jesus to better accomplish what is truly important throughout my day. When I spend time with Jesus, I’m empowered to take His peace and love with me, reflecting a deeper calm while demonstrating His love to those I encounter along the way.
Lord, thank You for the lessons learned from two sisters who both loved You. May I learn from them and put into practice that balance between faith and works, of being and doing. Create in me a desire to spend more time with You to discern my priorities so that the peace from knowing You reflects in all I do throughout my day. Amen.
Want to subscribe to future posts? Click here.
Text and photograph copyright © 2017 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of woodland path near Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
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