The Tale of Two Sistas
Worship Leader Grace Balint sings "He Will Rejoice Over You"
This is a familiar Bible story of two sisters, Mary and Martha. One was hungry for Jesus to abundantly feed and nourish her soul; the other was starving for affirmation of her hard work of hospitality. It's found in Luke 10:38-42.
Here's a snapshot of the powerful message: Jesus had come to town and Martha had invited Him to her home. Martha wanted to prepare a meal but was "distracted by all the preparations" while her sister Mary literally "sat at the Lord's feet listening to what He said." Martha got frustrated and went over to Jesus and complained to Him and told Him, "Tell her to help me!" His response? "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed--or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her."
Whoa. What? Wait, we are exhorted to "practice hospitality" (Romans 12:13). Yes, that's true.
But Charles H. Spurgeon comments on this verse, "Martha was not blamable for serving, nor for serving much, but for being distracted with care, when she should be listening to her Lord. Mary wisely judged that it would better please the Lord for her to hearken to His teaching than to offer Him a grand entertainment...He had far rather receive an attentive ear than any or all other attentions which the kindest hostesses could offer Him." ----Spurgeon's Devotional Bible.
And look what Jesus promised Mary for choosing to seek Him first, far above everything else! "Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:42).
Spurgeon wrote: "She [Mary] was more spiritual than her sister, and was wise for so being."
So what is His promise of what will not be taken from her? This. Because she made Jesus her stronghold, her everything--she was a true worshiper and she became privy to all the promises: "One thing I ask of the LORD, this only is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek Him in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock" (Psalm 27:4-5).
Yes! Love and security!
And "The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup, You make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places. Surely I have a delightful inheritance" (Psalm 16:5-6). The ESV Bible commentary: Jesus promises three metaphors that describe LIFE as a gift of God: portion...cup...lot."
Mary knew Jesus -- really knew Jesus -- and she believed His words. She obviously knew, by His grace His words had the power of life and His words gave her peace. Think about this, Mary sat still at His feet in calmness and focused on Him and His words. She was able to be still before Him because He gave her security. He made her life secure (Psalm 16:5).
Isn't that what we're all craving, Sisters?
Over and over in Scripture God makes supernatural promises to those who are His. And He is the One and Only Faithful Keeper of His promises!
"The LORD is trustworthy in all His promises and faithful in all He does" (Psalm 145:13).
Our culture seems to be looking, Looking, LOOKING frantically for purpose, truth, peace, love, joy, and contentment. What has lured our culture into this frenzy that MORE is better? What has tempted us to seek our own fame instead of the glory of God?
Social media. Marketing. Magazines...all are perfect bait to hook us into the comparison trap! Do we really believe MORE stuff will be better for us because it gives us value? But we can't get what our hearts are truly longing for, in things or in our own fame. You know, worldly materialistic temptations. Buy more things. More stuff will make us happy, right? Nope. That's why people keep buying more stuff because a little stuff is not bringing peace so maybe they need to get more stuff. Nope.
All that stuff will rust, rot, break, or be stolen because it's just stuff that will not last. It's worldly wealth. Expensive toys to make us look like we have value. We think. You know the cliche: We go into debt to buy a lot of things to impress people you don't even like? Well, just sayin'. Those things can be easily taken away from us.
But Jesus promises security in Him. He promises His love for us as His children can never be taken away. And our love for Him can never be stolen from our hearts. "No one can snatch us out of His hand" (John 10:29).
Jesus has set a table and invited the world to sit and be fed by Him with supernatural food that nourishes us daily and will delight us now and forever. His promises are for His children and cannot be taken away...IF we are willing to sit at His feet and enjoy the feast!
"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him" (Psalm 34:8).
Polly💖
Writing to Shine the Light!
Matthew 5:16
This is a familiar Bible story of two sisters, Mary and Martha. One was hungry for Jesus to abundantly feed and nourish her soul; the other was starving for affirmation of her hard work of hospitality. It's found in Luke 10:38-42.
Here's a snapshot of the powerful message: Jesus had come to town and Martha had invited Him to her home. Martha wanted to prepare a meal but was "distracted by all the preparations" while her sister Mary literally "sat at the Lord's feet listening to what He said." Martha got frustrated and went over to Jesus and complained to Him and told Him, "Tell her to help me!" His response? "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed--or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her."
Whoa. What? Wait, we are exhorted to "practice hospitality" (Romans 12:13). Yes, that's true.
But Charles H. Spurgeon comments on this verse, "Martha was not blamable for serving, nor for serving much, but for being distracted with care, when she should be listening to her Lord. Mary wisely judged that it would better please the Lord for her to hearken to His teaching than to offer Him a grand entertainment...He had far rather receive an attentive ear than any or all other attentions which the kindest hostesses could offer Him." ----Spurgeon's Devotional Bible.
And look what Jesus promised Mary for choosing to seek Him first, far above everything else! "Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:42).
Spurgeon wrote: "She [Mary] was more spiritual than her sister, and was wise for so being."
So what is His promise of what will not be taken from her? This. Because she made Jesus her stronghold, her everything--she was a true worshiper and she became privy to all the promises: "One thing I ask of the LORD, this only is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek Him in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock" (Psalm 27:4-5).
Yes! Love and security!
And "The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup, You make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places. Surely I have a delightful inheritance" (Psalm 16:5-6). The ESV Bible commentary: Jesus promises three metaphors that describe LIFE as a gift of God: portion...cup...lot."
Mary knew Jesus -- really knew Jesus -- and she believed His words. She obviously knew, by His grace His words had the power of life and His words gave her peace. Think about this, Mary sat still at His feet in calmness and focused on Him and His words. She was able to be still before Him because He gave her security. He made her life secure (Psalm 16:5).
Isn't that what we're all craving, Sisters?
Over and over in Scripture God makes supernatural promises to those who are His. And He is the One and Only Faithful Keeper of His promises!
"The LORD is trustworthy in all His promises and faithful in all He does" (Psalm 145:13).
Our culture seems to be looking, Looking, LOOKING frantically for purpose, truth, peace, love, joy, and contentment. What has lured our culture into this frenzy that MORE is better? What has tempted us to seek our own fame instead of the glory of God?
Social media. Marketing. Magazines...all are perfect bait to hook us into the comparison trap! Do we really believe MORE stuff will be better for us because it gives us value? But we can't get what our hearts are truly longing for, in things or in our own fame. You know, worldly materialistic temptations. Buy more things. More stuff will make us happy, right? Nope. That's why people keep buying more stuff because a little stuff is not bringing peace so maybe they need to get more stuff. Nope.
All that stuff will rust, rot, break, or be stolen because it's just stuff that will not last. It's worldly wealth. Expensive toys to make us look like we have value. We think. You know the cliche: We go into debt to buy a lot of things to impress people you don't even like? Well, just sayin'. Those things can be easily taken away from us.
But Jesus promises security in Him. He promises His love for us as His children can never be taken away. And our love for Him can never be stolen from our hearts. "No one can snatch us out of His hand" (John 10:29).
Jesus has set a table and invited the world to sit and be fed by Him with supernatural food that nourishes us daily and will delight us now and forever. His promises are for His children and cannot be taken away...IF we are willing to sit at His feet and enjoy the feast!
"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him" (Psalm 34:8).
Polly💖
Writing to Shine the Light!
Matthew 5:16
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