A Pretty Plate

So it's been a little while, but I have a question for you reader:

What is one of your favorite attributes of Jesus that you have experienced while reading the scriptures? If you don't have an answer to that question yet that's ok. I pray that you will soon, but for now I'll share mine with you.

There's this really amazing thing that the Lord does where He is somehow able to precisely address the issues within a person's heart via a simple request, question, or problem that the individual may bring Him. I've seen Him do this with me personally, but we'll save the stories time for another date. Today I will give you an example of what I mean from the scriptures themselves.

In Luke chapter 10, we get a really tiny snippet of Jesus doing a heart check with one of my biblical besties, Martha. Now I have no proof of this, but I am inclined to believe that Martha was the oldest based on the way that she seemed to be the party planner and the delegator (she was bossy) in multiple accounts and unfortunately my girl assumed that she could get Jesus to help her boss her sister around for this particular gathering that should've gone according to her plans. As the oldest myself, I feel most seen and heard (and convicted) from this passage.

As Martha was cooking, setting tables, cleaning, pouring beverages, sweating, zipping and zapping from the kitchen to the dining area and back to the kitchen again, she notices that no one has budged. Out of all of these people that she invited into her home-Jesus and probably a few of His disciples-no one has lifted a finger to help relieve her of any of the party planning duties (which she took on herself by the way), not even her own flesh and blood, Mary.

So, in classic (presumably) older sister fashion, Martha doesn't go directly to her sister to ask her nicely with a sweet smile and a "please" and "thank you" to help her in the kitchen. Noooo, that would take way too much humility and Martha is probably tired of Mary "always doing this" (sound familiar?). Instead, she takes what she thinks is a short cut to getting the help she thinks she needs. Just go to the Man in charge of this whole operation, that'll do it right?

Wrong.

With her accusations, her receipts and her attitude ready, she marches into the living area where everyone seems to be having a grand ole time hanging out with Jesus and fires off. "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me." (Luke 10:40). If you listen closely to Martha's complaint, you'll hear that she not only accused her sister of not helping, but even worse, she underhandedly accused Jesus of not caring. When I saw this, it was a dagger the Holy Spirit pierced me with personally because I recognized Martha's question as something I have spouted at the Lord myself a few times before. Nonetheless, here comes my favorite part.

Jesus never, ever flinched. Not when he was accused of having a demon by some in a multitude, not when He was tempted by the devil, and not when a woman distracted and tired from party planning all by herself blames Him for not caring. Not only did He not flinch at the lie and seek to defend Himself, but He saw right through it. This wasn't about Mary being lazy, or Martha having no help in the kitchen. If that was all it was about, Jesus would've been chopping the potatoes with her! We are in fact talking about the same Man that washed grown men's feet.

This was about the depths of Martha's heart. Somewhere along the way, she began to be convinced of the lie that Jesus just simply does not care; whether it was on the way to her brother's burial or some other time in her life that we don't know about. That lie compounded and was exposed in this very moment. She blamed her momentary loneliness on His "carelessness" and because He loved her, He took this opportunity to disarm her defenses and invite her into the most important thing alongside her sister. Sitting with Him, listening and being fully engaged with Jesus and His teachings really are more important than the table setting, more important than the seasonings and herbs, and even more important that that pretty plating.

To all of my Martha's and Marvin's out there (myself included), there is absolutely a time to serve, plan, delegate, hustle and grind all on just 4 hours of sleep; but there is also a time to invest in the absolute most important thing you could ever invest in in your ENTIRE LIFE. Eternity is expensive and I promise you, that thing can wait. Rise a little bit earlier so you can sit with Him just a little bit longer and listen, and after you've listened, obey. Let Him heal your heart of the lies the enemy convinced you of long ago. Be honest. Just tell Jesus the truth as opposed to wrapping it in the blame of someone else's irresponsibility. He saw that thing in your heart from the beginning anyway.

And Jesus answered and said to her "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41).

When we choose that better part, the Lord will defend us from the need to strive and perform.

See you next time!