"But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:40-42 NASB1995)
The weather has finally turned here in South Texas; at least temporarily. The state population has collectively sighed in relief from the 100+ degree days we’ve endured since May. In the cool of the morning, my patio now beckons me. Coffee and devotions are made infinitely better with breezes and morning stars surrendering to sunrise. There are two small chairs at our bistro table; one for me and one for a friend.
This morning, Martha reminds us that we can welcome Jesus into our home, but we can fail to sit at His feet. Our intentions are likely solid: we are serving Him. But in our busy-ness, we can miss what He craves most: intimate connection. We can get so consumed with serving Jesus that we stop seeing Jesus. Yet seeing is critical to listening and listening is still the first step in loving.
This hits close to home today. Rob and I are in a new stretch; we work overlaying shifts and our connection opportunities have become far more limited. When Rob comes home from work, I try to put my tasks to the side to fully focus on seeing and hearing and loving my husband. More than the likely the world has been running over him all day long and I want to be the place he feels seen, heard and valued. (Because he is!) Our time in the same square footage is sparce and it’s critical to the health of our union that we communicate value and affection when we’re in the same room.
Similarly, Martha’s season with Jesus was short. I wonder, when He hung on the cross months or years later, did she recall the days when He came to her house? Were dishes and food prep worth the time she spent close but not near?
Of course we have eternity with Jesus, but in the meantime we plod through this earthly existence. Time in His presence is what makes it survivable. Thriveable. Martha’s sister figured it out. She recognized that when we sit at the feet of Jesus, everything lesser falls out of priority. The good doctor shared it with me on the phone last night: “If you are sitting at someone’s feet, it’s hard to see much else.”
I don’t know about you, but I need that level of spiritual assist. I trend more Martha than Mary – worried and bothered with an endless agenda. But today I see the familiar figure of Jesus standing in my doorway; bidding me to come and sit in that second chair. He desires what only I can give: my full attention. His eyes ply my heart with a promise: seeking will result in all the other things being added. Presence must remain my priority and the lesser will fall away.
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:33-34 NASB1995)
Funny that these two verses hold hands, isn’t it? It’s as though God knows that our worries and bothers will deter us from His presence. He insists there is a better way. Sitting at His feet brings our problems into proper perspective: He still has the world in His hands and us, also.
Lord, please forgive us for our Martha tendencies. The world is loud and close, demanding and discouraging. Give us the courage to come out of the fray and into Your restorative presence. Help us put aside our tasks and concerns, enamored instead with Your teaching. Help us learn to see and hear and love You the way You deserve to be loved. May we remember this lifetime is limited. Amen.