How is your week so far? Busy? Crazy busy? You probably have no time at all to stop and take a breath. You just woke up and, in the blink of an eye, the day is gone and it is time to sleep. And same tomorrow, and following day, and so on and on and on . . . work, projects, reports, kids, school, church, grocery, exercise, masks, covid, breaking news, Trump, Biden, election 2020, holidays, finances, debts, future, 2021? . . . STOP!
Ok, let’s stop. Relax. Please, open the Bible in the Book of Luke, and read chapter 10 verses 38 through 42. This is the passage when Jesus Christ was hosted by Martha and her sister Mary in their house. Martha is the older sister of Mary and Lazarus. She was a type of a woman who takes control of everything. It is worth noting, that hospitality is a social requirement in their culture, and was considered shameful to turn someone around. In addition, they were hosting a very special guest.
So, Martha, being the eldest and the one who is in charge, tried to impress the Lord Jesus. She was fussing around just about everything, I assume. “Martha was cumbered about much serving“: cleaning around, arranging stuff, and definitely cooking at the same time. But her younger sister Mary “sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word“. Martha got impatient with Mary and asked Jesus to advocate for her, and she said: “Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me“. Of course, Jesus Christ noticed Martha’s bustle, and, I am sure, the Lord noticed her zeal. She was worried about everything, and nothing at the same time. The Lord Jesus replied to Martha: “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things“. But Jesus was not interested in Martha’s vain zeal, only “one thing is needful“. Jesus Christ was interested in her attentive listening. Her heart is the place where the Lord Jesus wanted to be, “and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her“.
Scripture
4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. -- Psalm 27:4 KJV
Observation
Psalm 27 is a David’s prayer to God to delivery him from his enemies. King David takes time from his very tight schedule between wars and devote it to the Lord. Instead of reinforcing his position or planning new attack, there is “one thing [has David] desired of the Lord“. He desired the same thing what Mary has chosen. In spite of all that fuss around, either it is war or daily routine, they both seek just one, they seek the presence of the Lord: “that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life“. The time is too precious for them to waste it for hurry and fuss, they want “enquire in his temple“, they want to learn more and more about God and His purpose.
David and Mary knew, that there is time to serve the Lord, there is time to fight for the Lord, but also, there is time to pray, to listen, and “to behold the beauty of the Lord“.
Application
This is the time for your journaling. Reflect on these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit to test your faith and your walk with Christ.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? — 2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV
- How does your daily routine look like?
- Are you like Martha, or rather like king David or Mary?
- How much time do you spend praying, listening and enjoying the Lord by reading His Word?
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, we praise and glorify You Holy Name. We thank You, Lord Jesus, for creating every new day for us. We thank You for giving us meaning and purpose by entrusting us our families, our work duties, our service to You. We pray that we may always have a time to stop and to behold Your beauty, Lord. We pray that the Holy Spirit will be always with us to guide and to reprove us.
All these we pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
