by MeredithNMills | Jan 15, 2016 | confidence, fear, freedom, grace, knowing God, ministry, rest, serving, Uncategorized, Walking by Faith
“Don’t You care that she’s not helping me?”
Martha’s words reflected the turmoil in her soul. With so much to do, how could Mary just sit there? Did she forget about their large dinner party tonight? The food wouldn’t cook itself!
Martha wanted so much for everything to be perfect – the meal, the accommodations, the service. It wasn’t everyday that Jesus came to visit! She had to make sure He was comfortable during His stay. He needed to feel honored, to know how much she loved Him. But…how could she do it all alone?
“Don’t You care that she’s left me to do all the work? Tell her to get up and get busy!”*
Do you ever feel like Martha? I know I do. All the time. Hubby jokes about my impossible “to do” lists. But it’s true. I seem incapable of creating a “to do” list that’s actually doable.
Oh, I totally get Martha. I know what it’s like to feel resentful when my priorities are not a priority to others.
So when I came across this passage in my Bible reading last week, I spent a while reflecting on it. Where did Martha go wrong? What is life’s one true necessity that Mary chose? And seriously, did Jesus not care about dinner? I mean, just practically speaking, how was dinner going to get on the table if both Mary and Martha sat at His feet?
What strikes me most in this account is the tenderness that exudes from Jesus’ gentle rebuke.
“Martha, Martha…My dearly loved Martha! I do see your hard work! I know you want to honor me and prove your devotion. But, Martha, that’s not what I want from you! You’re so distracted, so anxious, so uptight. You’re trying so hard all the time. Trying to take care of everyone. Trying to stay on top of things. Trying to do the right thing.
“I want you to quit trying and just come rest.
“Just be near Me. Listen to My heart. That’s what Mary has chosen. I won’t send her away to get busy.”*
The key difference, it seems, between the two sisters is this – Martha was driven to serve, while Mary drew near in love. Her adoration compelled her to just be close. To hang on His every word. To listen to His heart. To know Him deeply.
And Jesus said nothing in the world matters more.
His call to know Him and be near Him is woven through all the pages of Scripture.
“Cease striving and know that I am God…” (Ps 46:10a).
“Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…” (Phil 3:8).
“Oh, that we might now the Lord! Let us press on to know Him…” (Hos 6:3a).
“But as for me, the nearness of God is my good…” (Ps 73:28a).
“Let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace…” (Heb 4:16a).
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…” (Jas 4:8).
Boil it all down, and we find this at the heart of Christianity – being near God. It’s expressed in many different ways…Abiding in Him. Drawing near to Him. Learning from Him. Loving Him. Fixing our eyes on Him. But it all comes back to intimate nearness with God. Everything else in life flows out of that.
This nearness is certainly cultivated in quiet alone times with Him. But thankfully, for this mama with littles (who finds “quiet time” a bit elusive), I’m learning it can also be cultivated in the noise and activity of life. In my busy “Martha moments,” when dinner truly must get on the table, I can still have the heart of Mary as I rest in my relationship with Him. Serving my family (and anything else I do) can be an overflow of my walk with Him. As I receive and rest in His love, I can freely give it to those around me.
So whatever our season, however busy our days, let us press on to know Him!
How do you cultivate the nearness of God in your daily life?
*This is my paraphrase. 🙂 You can read the whole story in Luke 10:38-42.
by MeredithNMills | Dec 20, 2014 | grace, rest, Uncategorized
“My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you -” Galatians 4:19.
Ahhh, Christmastime…shining lights, the smell of Christmas trees, bell ringers, happy music, and shopping. Lots of shopping. Everyone bustling about in search of the perfect gift. Because Christmas seems to be all about the gifts. And with good reason. After all, Christmas started with God’s most precious gift of His Son to a sinful world.
But you know, it’s interesting how God presented His gift of Jesus. This priceless Gift came so simply – wrapped not in the costly garments of royalty, but in rags. Announced by angels not to the “important” people of His day, but to humble shepherds. Bringing not the earthly peace people longed for, but the offer of peace with God. So simple. So understated. And yet, so like God. He just doesn’t seem concerned about outward appearances.
Lately I’ve been studying in Galatians. I was struck by the contrast between Paul’s ministry goal (Gal 4:19, above) and that of the false teachers he warns against (Gal 6:12-13). The false teachers were consumed with making “a good showing in the flesh.” They wanted their followers to look good – to be good rule-keepers (which, by the way, the teachers themselves couldn’t even do!) Kind of like a beautiful, shiny gift with nothing at all inside. Admirable to look at, but hollow and empty of any true value.
Paul, on the other hand, labored to see Christ formed IN those to whom he ministered. Rule-keeping (specifically here in regard to circumcision) doesn’t matter. What matters to God is a heart-change – a “new creation” (Gal 6:15). This new creation comes about when we place our faith in Christ (2 Cor 5:17) and the Holy Spirit takes up residence within us. Our new life now is to be guided by faith, rather than by a list of do’s and don’t’s (Gal 2:20). As we walk by faith, being led by the Spirit (Gal 5:16, 22-25), we fulfill a new law – the law of Christ. This new law is the law of love (Gal 6:2, John 13:34-35.) As the Spirit (not you and I!) produces His fruit in and through us (Gal 5:22-25), our faith overflows in loving service to others (Gal 5:6, 13).
This, Paul says, is what matters to God. Not the doing. But the being. Being a new creation. Having faith – faith that brings about salvation, and faith that works itself out in daily, Spirit-led living.
On the outside, a life of law and a life of grace may look pretty similar. But what’s inside is vastly different. A focus on rule-keeping may produce a neat and tidy life, one that is full of good works that others praise and admire. But it also produces emptiness, weariness and a constant demand to do better. A life led by grace, however, is a life of spiritual rest. By grace through faith, I am already righteous before God so I don’t have to prove that to Him or anyone else. I can relax and rest in my relationship with Him. He is my Daddy and I am His extravagantly loved child. I can trust Him to lead me moment-by-moment, allowing His peace to rule in my heart (Col 3:15) and His Spirit to express Himself through me (Gal 5:16, 22-25).
What about you, my friend? What does God see when He looks inside? Does He see someone desperately trying to “keep it all together,” to do all the right things for Him and others? Does He see His beloved child running frantic with the demands of life (especially the Christmas craziness)? Be still, my friend. Stop striving, relax, let go. He is God (Ps 46:10). Enjoy Him. Walk with Him. He loves you enough to come to your world, to live the simplest of lives and die the worst of deaths. All to make you His. What greater Gift could we ever receive?
