Hope for Martha

In all the years of hearing, pondering and being instructed on the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42)Martha has always gotten a bad rap. It seems like we view Martha as some sort of creature of the underworld for not dropping everything and running to the feet of Christ. Of course we can see the wisdom of Mary sitting at the feet of Christ, but there were things that legitimately needed to get done. Where Martha missed the mark with her attitude. She could have been receiving just as much blessing had her heart been at the feet of Christ even with her hands being busy preparing the meal. Mary wasn't praised for not helping her sister and Martha wasn't corrected for continuing on with the preparations. We do well in the service of Christ if our hearts are like Mary and our hands are like Martha.

There is a lovely woman at church who from the outside might look like a Martha. She is always doing. She makes sure food goes out and tables are wiped down and floors are vacuumed. When we gather for the Sunday school adult class her hands are busy with some sort of handiwork. But I also see her listening. She listens intently during the service and the classes. She is very intuitive when someone is in need or a project needs to be completed.

The Lord calls us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. He tells us that we are His workmanship CREATED FOR good works in Christ. He tells us that we are saved by grace but that faith without WORKS (yes works!) is dead. Often we fail when we get frustrated because our works have gone unnoticed:) You know, I've just heard of people doing that...

Lord grant us mama's the heart of Mary and the Hands of Martha ~Amen