Some Thoughts About Martha and Me

Today is my day off. So I slept in. Whenever I sleep in I feel a little guilty that I've wasted time but since I'm also getting over a bad cold I figured that justified things. I lay staring at the ceiling for a few minutes before convincing myself that I really did need to get up and get things done. After finding some juice I pulled open my Bible and read the next two chapters in my reading plan, then I put the Bible down and started to pray.

My voice was praying out loud "Lord, please forgive me for my sins..." but my mind was thinking; wow, I have a lot of cleaning to do today. My place is a mess! I can't believe I let it get this way. I have to vacuum and dust and there's a pile of dishes to do... And right then and there it was as if God put a spotlight on my soul which made my mouth and mind stop. He put before my mind the example of Mary and Martha.

The story goes something like this. Jesus goes to visit with Mary and Martha (who are sisters) and while He's there Mary is sitting at His feet listening and learning and in general just spending time with Jesus. Martha, on the other hand, is fussing around the kitchen preparing food and other general housekeeping stuff. When we read the story we tend to think better of Mary because she was doing the right thing; giving her time to Jesus, while Martha was thinking too much on earthly things.

But here's the thing God showed me this morning; if I'm going to be hard on Martha I need to take a good look at my own heart and realize that I'm just like her. I don't have any more time to sit at Jesus' feet during my day that she did. Sure, you may say, if Jesus was actually sitting in my messy living room I would put away the vacuum cleaner and make time to sit and listen, but I'm not certain that's true. Jesus is always available for me to spend time with Him and I make very little out of the opportunity.

"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.'"

Luke 11:41-42

Perhaps Jesus' words to Martha will hit home for you too. One thing is necessary, and that one thing is a relationship with Jesus. How can we have relationship if there is no time, no space, no room for Jesus in our lives?

The good news is that Jesus wants relationship with you even more than you want relationship with Him and He is always willing, ready, and wanting to take you back. He took me back this morning after I confessed my sin. Two things I know are certain; sinful people will always break relationship with God and God is always ready to forgive those who repent. You can trust Him. He give His life for such a relationship.

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