“and she (Martha) had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was encumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou, not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things, but only one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:39 – 42.
“Oh come and taste and see that The Lord is good” Psalm 34:8
Trust everyone’s Thanksgiving went well. We had my mom from Orange County, our new grandson and granddaughter, so it was pretty neat. A great opportunity to give God thanks.
As we start our series again I would encourage you to reread part II. In it we established the core problem that exists in man and between him and God. In brief the problem that exists is both God and man are trying to right the wrong created in us via the fall. The Lord has His way. Seeking to reestablish a relationship with us via the Cross, and man seeking to fill his void via things, relationships, beliefs, pleasures or duties, and the two ways don’t meld. They are completely contrary to one another. From our perspective it appears that God’s commands are stern. That He has no compassion or love because he opposes the choices I make. Choices that I believe would make me happy. Yet as shared in last week’s Thanksgiving prayer He tears down the idols we build to show us the shifting sand we call a foundation. In other words He allows us to do “our will,” (as opposed to His will) and reap the consequences until we come to an understanding that in our “Father’s house” we have all we need.
Such was the conclusion of the prodigal son. He left the Father’s house lured by the world only to realize that he had it best when he lived in relationship with his father. (Luke 15:11-32 ) That is true with us! To be in relationship with The Lord is to be “home.” There are no negative “hooks” or surprises, or ” end of the road consequences,” such as addictions, “excess baggage” or a string of broken relationships to name a few. Even given this God is able to turn it all around and use it for our good. Walking in faith is a life changer and rightly should be. We are surrendering the “reigns” (control) of our life over to The Lord. Instead of being driven by passions, fears, and insecurities we are now learning to trust in our Heavenly Father. My all time favorite verse Proverbs 3:6&7 “Trust in The Lord with all thy heart and lean not unto your own understanding (or “our own way”) rather in ALL your ways acknowledge him (put Him first) and he will direct your paths.” I have not found a life trial or event that I have not been able to lean on this verse and find strength and comfort. This verse encapsulates what it means to be in a relationship with The Lord.
In our study of Martha we find that she is much like us. She was outwardly doing all the right things, but inwardly she was substituting service or doing for a relationship. The Lord, because he loved her, called her on it. “Martha, Martha thou art careful and troubled about many things, but only one thing is needful.” Christ revealed to her that she was burdened with her perceived sense of duty, but more than that Christ was not first in her life. Had he been she would have been seated next to Mary. Instead she was upset with Jesus for allowing her sister to sit listening to him teach. Wouldn’t you think that when God walks into the room that everything should stop? Mary recognized who Christ was, but not Martha. She had the “its all up to me, I’m carrying the whole world on my shoulders” complex. That nobody else cares. Such a heavy cross to carry. Surely it is not the one that Christ has called us to carry, “my yoke is easy and my burdens are light” (Matthew 11:30). Food can wait. Jesus can even speak it into existence. Only one response was right in that moment, “and Mary has chosen that good part, that shall not be taken away from her.” The Lord was not saying that her service was wrong. The Lord was saying that her priority of worrying and fretting over the service not getting done was wrong. Fretting makes God small. Faith makes God big. A big God equals small problems, a small God equals big problems. We choose the size of the God we want to believe in by either spending time with Him and growing our faith like Mary, or else being Martha’s and carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders.
So what does The Lord want? A question we’ve answered, but this verse answers it better. “Oh come and taste and see that The Lord is good.” First and foremost that is what it means to walk with God. My self esteem, my inner self, my good thoughts as well as my not so good thoughts, and more belongs to Him now. It is surrendered over to him for Him to do with as He please. My new message to myself is “I can do (overcome) all things in Christ Jesus who loves me and gave himself as a ransom for me.” (Phil4:13) I have been captured in love, and “I am no longer my own. I have been bought with a price and that is the precious blood of Christ. (1Cor 6:20)” Our identity must change and can change as we spend time with The Lord in prayer and study.
Father God,
Thank you for challenging me to grow in a deeper walk with you. Being a Martha is trying and wearisome. It is a burden that I would like to lose and learn to trust you for the work and duties that are required of me. To see you as a Big God, so that the problems are small, and to “come and taste and see that you are good,” instead of substituting idols of my imagination to falsely satisfy me. Help me Father, for this is a big step.
Thank you and Amen.
Move Forward in His Grace – Arthur