© 14 Colin Melbourne
Luke 10:38-42 KJV
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
It’s a small, but significant, domestic scene when Christ visited the home of Martha and Mary at Bethany.
The Lord wants to speak to us through it now, let’s rest at His feet and hear Him.
The powerful understated message, typical of the gentleness of God; teaches instead of demanding, leads instead of judging us.
Pure Grace.
Here we read the main point:…
Mary, … sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
Grumbling to God
Martha, being a hospitable hostess, was unselfishly caring for the needs of her guests.
Doubtless she nudged Mary, rousing her to come and help.
She surely gave a pointed look when Mary ignored the signals from her over-burdened sister.
Martha was irritated with Christ too, notice the way she instructed Him to send Mary to help her.
Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
Lord, don’t you care?
The situation merely required a gentle smile from the Master, an unspoken signal to Mary to assist, and she would have been gone. Mary wasn’t shirking, she was simply fascinated by Jesus and His words.
Like us.
But the Lord chose to endorse Mary, corrected Martha, and let her grumble to herself.
We sympathise with Martha, don’t we?
Almighty God in the Flesh invites Himself to her home with His dishevelled entourage; hungry, dusty, sweaty, and needing rest from their travels.
Martha would not have left young Mary to cater alone, she’d be in the yard lighting a fire, preparing a meal, sweeping floors, airing sleeping mats, filling water-jars, and buying food supplies.
So she resented Mary not helping her.
For Martha to sit down and listen along with everyone else, would appear to be selfish, and inhospitable.
Somebody had to get things done, and it was her home. So we sympathise with her don’t we?
But Christ’s words, one thing is needful, are the perfect timeless rebuke whenever we also are lured from attending to the Living Word, by the cares, duties and chores of this life.
Giddy Distractions
Bread-winners, take note.
Nursing mothers and busy office workers, pay attention; God the Holy Ghost has come, speaks God’s words, and wants you to give the LORD Jesus Christ your full attention, always: Without exception.
I like that, and He’s right of course, isn’t He?
No matter how busy you are, Father wants you at the feet of Jesus attentive to His word.
God now resides in each believer
Of course, we soak ourselves in the Holy Bible, the written word of God, but Christ shows us here that we are to listen to the Living Word speak to us: Meaning, we must remain Spirit conscious, paying attention to God’s leading in our hearts.
God is willing to communicate with believers constantly, but those who ignore their hearts, where He speaks to them, become ruled by their own thoughts and flesh: God calls it being carnal: Just like the unsaved. (1 Co. 3:1)
Preoccupied, and insensitive, they fail to perceive God’s leading, and get into an awful mess.
Fortunately, the Lord is as gracious today as when He chided Martha so tenderly.
Listen, Hear, and Obey
Take this to heart, learn to give Him your full spiritual attention all the time.
Listen born again believer.
Mary wasn’t born again, so she had to physically leave the kitchen, and sit down to hear Christ.
Only later, after the Resurrection, was our dispensation available.
After the Resurrection, the New Covenant began, and every believer now carries Christ within their heart everywhere they go. (2 Co. 13:5, Col. 1:27)
Attending to His Word, has never been easier, no matter how busy you find yourself.
Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, you can hear Jesus because of this glorious New Covenant in His Blood.
Listen carefully to Him, and you will see.
The key to Smith Wigglesworth’s success in miracle ministry was listening at Jesus’ feet like Mary. Smith lived in the Presence, abiding in Christ; listening, and obeying, anointed with power all the time, to do the will of God. He walked in holiness so that God’s anointing was released to work miracles. You’ll learn a lot from Smith Wigglesworth on Manifesting the Divine Nature.
© 14 Colin Melbourne
