A Lesson from Martha and Mary + the Ultimate Goal

I was originally planning on posting something else today, but this is something God has been speaking to my heart about recently, so I decided to switch gears and write out a completely new post.  From my heart to yours… here are some things I have been learning from the well-known setting of Jesus’ visit to Martha and Mary’s house in Luke 10.

“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.’  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 10:40-42, ESV

Lord, how often am I Martha?  How often am I “distracted with much serving”?

Often I am; often, I know.

I love serving.  I love saying yes.  I love staying busy.  I love working for the kingdom.

“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.  For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” -- Philippians 3:8, ESV

Am I Martha?

Serving is good and beautiful.  But it is not the best.

“One thing is necessary.  Mary has chosen the good portion.”

How is that, God?

I am too often the one that points to my works and says, “See, God?  Look at everything I’m doing for you!”

God says, “But what about the things you aren’t doing?”

Am I resting?

Am I listening?

Am I sitting at His feet?

I cannot serve without being filled with the Spirit.  If I’m serving without a filled spirit, what does that accomplish?

I must walk in the Spirit.  And I must put down my works.  Like Paul, I must count them but loss compared to knowing Christ.

I must say “no” to the next blog post to pray for the girl on my heart.

I must say “no” to reading articles to read the Article of articles.

I must say “no” to texting friends to chatting with God.

I must say “no” to burning myself out to let God rekindle my flame.

Am I Martha?

Lord, change my heart.  Calm my troubled, weary soul.  Comfort my wounded, sick, weak, anxious heart. 

One thing is necessary.

What is necessary, Lord?

“Be still and know that I am God…” -- Psalm 46:10, KJV

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." -- Matthew 11:28, NIV

"The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.  He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams." -- Psalm 23:1-2, NLT

 This year, above all my many goals, hopes, and plans, only one thing is necessary: to sit at Jesus’ feet.  That’s it.  If I don’t accomplish a single goal on my list in 2019, but I take full advantage of the incredible privilege of sitting at my Savior’s feet, what a year it will be!

What about you?  Are you Martha?

This year, let’s make our priority to truly sit at the feet of Jesus.  Lay aside the weights of this world.  Lay aside the goals, the dreams, and the plans.  Lay aside everything to pursue the Ultimate Goal, which is Jesus Christ.

I hope you have a beautiful 2019, friends. <3

*Note: all verse images were created either by, or using, the YouVersion Bible app.