New Beginnings - New Life - Sisters

MARY 

(Martha & Lazarus's Sister)

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “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.” Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)

Hospitality is an art. Making sure a guest is welcomed, warmed, and well fed requires creativity, organisation and teamwork. Their ability to accomplish these goals makes Mary and her sister, Martha, one of the best hospitality teams in the Bible. Their frequent guest was Jesus Christ.

For Mary, hospitality meant more attention to the guest himself than to the physical needs he might have. She would rather talk and listen than cook. She was more interested in her guest's words than in the cleanliness of her home or the timeliness of her meals. She let her older sister, Martha, take care of those details. Mary's approach to events shows she is more of a "responder". She did little preparation--her role was participation. Unlike her sister who had to learn to stop and listen. Mary needed to learn that action is often appropriate and necessary.

We first meet Mary during a visit Jesus paid to her home. She simply sat at his feet and listened. When Martha became irritated at her sister's lack of help. Jesus stated that Mary's choice to enjoy his enjoy his company was the most appropriate response at the time. Our last glimpse of Mary shows her to have become a woman of thoughtful and worshipful action. Again she was at Jesus's feet, washing them with perfume and wiping them with her hair. She seemed to understand, better than many of the disciples, why Jesus was going to die. Jesus said her act of worship would be told everywhere, long with the gospel, as an example of costly service. 

Putting it into Action

1. What kind of hospitality does Jesus receive from your life?
2. Are you sometimes so busy planning and running your life that you neglect precious time with him?
3. Or do you respond to him by listening to his Word, then finding ways to worship him with your life? It is that kind of hospitality Jesus longs for from each of us.

Strengths

1. Perhaps the only person who understood and accepted Jesus's coming death, taking time to anoint his body while he was still living.
2. She learned when to Listen and when to Act.

Lessons from her Life

The busyness of serving God can sometimes become a barrier to knowing him personally. Small acts of obedience and service have widespread effects. Pray that God may give you an ear to hear and a willingness to serve him with your life.

Bible Verse

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus". 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, NIV

Prayer

Father in heaven, we thank you that we may feel your leading, your lordship, for you have blessed us with every spiritual and heavenly gift in Christ. We thank you that we may be among those who receive true life always anew, who praise and glorify you, exulting even in difficult days. For it is just in the difficult days that we need to belong to those who are thankful and joyful, who always find new certainty in their lives. With them may we experience the good you give on earth so that humankind may be blessed and come at last into your hands. In Jesus Name. Amen.

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