Monday, May 8, 2017

A Revealing New View Of Mary & Martha

Hey Friend,

I will be having foot surgery on the 10th.  This is a complex surgery that I'm having in an attempt to correct an unsuccessful surgery three years ago that left me with constant, residual nerve pain in my foot.  Naturally, I am a little more anxious than I normally would be about how this surgery is going to turn out.  I would really appreciate your prayers for me, the surgeon, and for peace and patience in the process of a smooth healing.

Meanwhile, I would love to share a revealing (at least to me) new view of Mary and Martha.  We all say we'd love to be like Mary - sitting at the feet of Jesus and resting on His every word while our silly sister, Martha, scurries about cleaning house. 

One of my favorite writers, Denise Hughes, at "Deeper Waters" www.deeperwaters.us/devotions/ wrote this devotional that has me thinking about how multi-faceted we all are.  Possibly because we are created in God's image?

To get the full gist of this devotional, you really need to read the scripture that goes along with it.  You'll be glad you did.  You may have read this story before, but I challenge you to read it with fresh eyes......get ready to be blessed...


Image result for pictures of jesus bringing lazarus back to life

DAY 24

— Read: John 11:1-27 —

Two women. Mary and Martha.
They’re most known for the time they had Jesus in their home, along with many other guests. Jesus was teaching and Mary was listening while Martha did all the work. After all, who was going to feed all those people in their house?
So Mary sat while Martha worked. And Martha got upset. But Jesus gently rebuked her, saying that Mary had chosen wiser.
Two thousand years later, women today will remark how they want to “be a Mary” and “not a Martha.”
But in today’s reading, we’re given a deeper look into the lives of these two women. Their brother had died. And in their society, if a woman didn’t have a husband or a father or a brother to care for them, they were destitute. So their brother’s death was not only a deep loss emotionally, there were also serious practical matters to consider.
Jesus heard their brother was ill, but He didn’t come. He delayed. And when Jesus finally arrived, their brother was already dead. Now we know that Jesus was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. But in that moment, the two sisters had no idea. And look at how they respond to the situation.
1. When they hear that Jesus is coming, Martha is the only one who gets up to meet Him. Mary, at first, refuses to go see Him.
2. When Martha sees Jesus, she says:
“Then Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if You had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. Yet even now I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You.'”
3. When Mary sees Jesus, she says:
“When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet and told Him, ‘Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died!'”
Martha’s faith is so great that she believes Jesus could raise Lazarus from the grave. But Mary can only lament that her brother is gone (and she insinuates that it’s Jesus’ fault).
Yes, when they had lots of people in their house, Mary was the one who chose better. She sat at His feet and listened while Martha worked. But here? In this situation? Martha is the one who showed great faith.
So whenever I hear someone say they want to “be a Mary” and “not a Martha,” I have to ask: Why must we choose between one or the other?
Like Mary, I want to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to all He has to say. And I do this every day by being in His Word.
Like Martha, when my world comes crashing down, and it seems as though all hope is lost, I want to run to Jesus and put all my faith in Him.
by Denise Hughes



— Diving Deeper —

Do you see yourself more as a Mary or a Martha or both?
Share your answer in the Comments below.

23 comments:

  1. May 10 -- gotta make a note of that so I can be praying for you. Hope this one goes well and that you recover quickly.
    I heard someone say recently that if the roles had been switched and Mary had been in the kitchen, that she would have functioned so much better because of the heart she brought to the kitchen. Denise has captured this well -- I also want to be a worker and a worshiper, and I don't see any reason why we have to choose.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michele,
      What a great way of looking at these two views of the women. No reason why we can't be both worker and worshiper! Thank you in advance for your prayers!
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

      Delete
    2. Well said, Michele. To be a working worshiper (or worshiping worker?) is a worthwhile objective!

      Delete
  2. Praying for you even as I tap away on the keyboard, Bev. He whispers peace to us during these unsettling times ...

    May you feel His strong arms of comfort wrap themselves around your soul.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Linda,
      Your words are what I needed to hear...yes He does whisper peace during unsettling times. I am inclining my ear to listen for His voice. Thank you for YOUR comforting words! Truly welcomed!
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

      Delete
  3. Bev, I am so glad you shared this devotional. This is a beautiful view of these sisters. I am so glad that we do not need to become one or the other but can in fact, embrace being women who work and worship our Lord. Praying for you, sweet friend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne,
      I thought this was a real eye opener and a reminder that we are not one dimensional. Yes, in fact, I think we're called to do both at different times in our life. Thank you sweet friend for your prayers....I believe in their power!
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

      Delete
  4. Oh Bev I just love to read of Mary and Martha. Before reading others comments I wanted to put my thoughts down in writing. I too have wanted to be a Mary at times. If I were asked about the godly women of the Bible and who I would want to be more like, it would be Mary. I've read several books about Mary and one of my all time favorite was She Did What She Could. After she was given such a hard time for using the oil, Jesus defended her. Then another book I read was by Charles Stanley, Waiting on God. He too mentioned that even Mary and Martha had to wait on Jesus as scripture tells us after Lazarus had died and Christ came to them. I have also written a short story in my personal journal about how me and my youngest brother are a Mary and Martin. Paul, my brother, was always the one making sure everything was just so so. I was the one who often would be at the table with Daddy as he talked about his love for Christ. Daddy was our modern day Noah as I called him. He warned people about what was to come. Today we can see clearly how Daddy gave of himself in warning the people just as Noah did in his day. Daddy wasn't called to build a boat but he definitely was to warn others. He was a watchman in word and deed. Then there was another book that I read, At the Feet of Jesus, again another book about Mary. Thank you dear friend for sharing and I indeed will keep you in prayer with the upcoming surgery.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anna,
      It just reminds me that characters in the Bible were multi-faceted people just like us. They had their good moments and their bad. They had good qualities and not so good. We/They are truly complex because we/they are God's workmanship. Thank you for sharing your insights here. Sounds like you've done much more reading than I have. I always love to garner new insights. Thanks so much for this and for your prayers for my surgery.
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

      Delete
  5. I think we are called to respond to different situations in different ways, just like Mary and Martha did. One is not better or right over the other. Their attributes are both to be welcomed but the real tricky part, if you will, is when one is called to serve more like Mary or more like Martha. When should we sit and be present and quiet? When should we get up and boldly do what needs getting done? Discernment about the situation is crucial. Wll continue fervent prayers for you my sweet Bev!! 😊❤️🙏🙏

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lisa,
      Discernment....that's truly the key. I totally agree with you. We need to be in continuous relationship with God and attuned to the inner guiding of the Holy Spirit to know when we are to sit and when we are to serve. Neither is right all the time. Thank you sweet friend for your prayer warrior spirit. You are such a blessing!!
      Blessings and ((Hugs)),
      Bev xx

      Delete
  6. Thank you, Bev, for insightful thoughts to contemplate about Mary and Martha. I, too, have put your name and request on a prayer card (my system, instead of a prayer list). I look forward to hearing the surgery was a glorious success!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nancy,
      I thought this post by Denise was really insightful and had me thinking too! Thank you for adding me to your prayer system (I'll take prayer any way that it comes!) Thank you for the reminder to thank God in advance for what He is going to perform....I so appreciate you!
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

      Delete
  7. There are such great lessons to learn from both of these women! I can just hope and pray that I do and say the right thing at the right time. I enjoyed reading your thoughts! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Debbie,
      I think you said it...just hope and pray that we can do and say the right thing at the right time. I'm glad you found some new insights here!
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

      Delete
  8. Bev, I will be praying for your surgery. May the God of peace fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.

    I never saw Mary and Martha this way before. I love what Denise pointed out about how Martha responded to Jesus as Lazarus died! I like the thought of living out the both from both sisters. Being intentional about sitting at the feet of Jesus and also exhibiting great faith and trust in Jesus, even when I don't understand why something is happening.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jeanne,
      This was a real eye opener for me because I think I always looked at Martha as doing the "wrong" thing, but here she is believing that Jesus can wake her brother from the dead and Mary is lamenting the loss and insinuating that Jesus is to blame. More proof that sometimes we get it right and sometimes we don't (we're human). Thank you so much for your heartfelt prayers...they are felt!
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

      Delete
  9. Hi, Bev.
    I hope your surgery goes well.

    I love this story about Martha and Mary. I often find myself as either or as both at the same time. It's crazy! But amazing that God meets us where we are.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lux,
      Thank you for your well wishes on my surgery! I think that's what I gained through this devotional - sometimes I'm Mary, sometimes Martha, and sometimes a smattering of both. People in the Bible were human...just like us.
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

      Delete
  10. I want to be both too. Great devotion, thanks for sharing it, Bev. -- I've been praying for you and wondering how you're doing. Shoot me an email or text and let me know how your surgery went...whenever you're up for sharing. No hurry. Praying for you and look forward to visiting with you while you're recovering. ((xoxo))

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brenda,
      Just feeling like a loopy blob....not good for much at the moment. This surgery is kind of forcing me to be more like Mary listening at the feet of Jesus. Sometimes God has a way of telling us what He wants us to do! ;)
      Blessings,
      Bev xoxo

      Delete
  11. Love this look at the women Mary and Martha! Thanks for sharing :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nicole,
      I definitely thought this post by Denise was worth sharing - very eye opening to me!
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

      Delete

I would really LOVE to hear from you!! Your thoughts, opinions, suggestions and prayer requests mean a lot to me.