Read: Luke 9.51-11.13
Verses chosen for reflection:
Luke 10:38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 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.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Reflect
We hear the common warning: "Do not be like Martha!" or "Be like Mary!" Well-intended warnings but probably another bumper sticker message taken out of context. Jesus was not saying that what Martha did was wrong. Rather, Jesus was saying that Martha should prioritise the first thing first.
In this context, it was to hear what the Lord Jesus had to say and teach. After which, if Martha wished to be busy with her hospitality towards Jesus, by all means. On the other hand, we trust that Mary was not a sluggard either. As Jesus had said, she had chosen the good portion. Afterwards, she would be up and about to serve.
So it was not really a case of choosing which character (Martha or Mary) to follow. Rather, the message of this passage was that Christ wanted His followers to be able to recognise and prioritise the first things first. Priority means that there is always an order to what needs to be done or even relationships to build.
In this case, we need to receive from God first and then do the things He wants us to do for the day. Our relationship with Christ supersedes the grandest projects there can ever be, waiting for our attention.
According to John 11, Martha seemed to have learned this particular lesson when Lazarus died. She went to meet with Jesus when she heard that the He was on his way to the house. Her conversation with Jesus seemed to flow from the point of quiet confidence "“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”
So while Martha was obviously grieved at the passing of her younger brother, she learned not to rush things or be busy with things that are of lesser importance. Instead, she learned to meet and wait upon the Lord first, trusting in the very will of God.
Relate
First things first. We are a people who are very skilled in keeping ourselves busy. We need to be up and about. Otherwise, our sense of significance or even identity is threatened by the silence of life.
Yet our Lord Jesus taught otherwise. We need not be fearful of losing significance because our significance has been forever established by what Christ had done on the Cross. With that, our identity has also been forever established as children of the Most High.
Our identity as a child of God should then help us realise that our rhythm in life now, does not follow that of the world. Instead, it should take shape according to how we put into priority our love for God and others. Back then, Jesus came and visit Mary and Martha. Now, as Christ is with us, our priority should be to "visit" Christ first thing when we wake and then whenever possible.
Similarly, while we toil 5 or 6 days a week in work and other activities; our priority for Sunday corporate worship as a Body in Christ should never give in to worldly pleasures or pursuits. In fact, we should make it a point to prepare ourselves on Saturday evening with reverence as we await for Sunday morning. For every Sunday should be a firm reminder that the Lord is Risen and His commandments were for the disciples to come together as often as we could. To edify one another and be filled in the Spirit to share the Gospel with others.
That would be our first things first.
Rest
Bless God by Brooke Ligertwood
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRUTWC3M_Is
Jason
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