Luke 10:38-42 lets us peek through a window into the life of 2 sisters for just a moment, on a very important night. We begin with one of the women, Martha “welcoming Jesus into her home.”
I can just imagine Martha right now, pacing through the house, doing last minute cleaning…what I like the call “stuffing the stuff”.
This is (let’s be honest how I always clean, yeah mom I know you’re shaking your head) where I just stuff things wherever I can find to put them justtttt long enough for the guests to leave and then I can go back to my messy life.
So here’s Martha, pulling a me, probably looking out the front door every 10 seconds waiting for Jesus to arrive.
Jesus finally does come, he’s welcomed, and this is where we have to be careful not to follow Martha’s lead.
Instead of sitting down with her guest, she doesn’t think her work is enough. She keeps cleaning and doesn’t seem to spend much time with Jesus.
It says “Mary (Martha’s sister)…sat at The Lord’s feet and listened to His teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving.”
I think too often we trick ourselves into thinking our work for The Lord isn’t good enough, not tangible enough, or just not worthy of anyone’s praise, much less our Heavenly Father’s.
Here in Africa I struggle with a different type of ministry. It’s slow-paced, but really usually a lot of fun, and doesn’t fit the idea in my mind of “work”. There’s a lot of hurt, but I get to do beautiful things in this beautiful place, and sometimes I feel like it’s not enough.
I’m not building houses, I’m holding hands, and I’m not telling the gospel story every day, but I’m tending a garden. Africa time is real, and things don’t really get going till about 9:30am around here, and usually are over before 5:00pm. This leaves a lot of time to…. Do what exactly?
To spend at The Lord’s feet. To listen to His teaching. To love on His children, and know that He can do whatever he wants to with my day.
If that means rocking an orphan to sleep, or praying for a GoGo, it’s all for Him.
I challenge you today whether you’re a believer or not, to spend time in silence.
I didn’t realize how precious silence was until I came here…
Trust me, it’ll change your day, maybe even your life. Go on a walk. If silence doesn’t exist in your world find some mellow music (Mumford and Sons, NeedToBreathe and Ben Rector are some great choices) and get those headphones in.
Spend time in prayer, and if you don’t know how to pray, read. Read the story for yourself and keep reading.
It just so happens the next chapter (Luke 11) teaches you to pray.. Didn’t plan that, but ya know how it goes, Jesus is a pretty cool guy, full of surprises. He has a great plan for you and me. Those plans probably look a little different, but aren’t you thankful they aren’t all the same? He knows and loves each of us so individually, and knows what’s best for his kids.
So although life is different here, and seems too simple at times, I know He has given me a good portion this day and every day, and it won’t be taken away from me.
