This Christmas has been a hard one for me
Aside from financial strain, the looming fourth wave of covid, being responsible for taking care of a sick parent, the usual festivities and excitement were unsurprisingly just not there
I tried to remind myself of the real reason for the season and to be super grateful but something was just seriously lacking this year and no matter how I tried I just felt something was missing
If that’s you, I hope this helps
Last night I came across the familiar passage in Luke 10 that tells the story of Mary and Martha
The Lord and his disciples were traveling along and came to a village. When they got there, a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat down in front of the Lord and was listening to what he said. Martha was worried about all that had to be done. Finally, she went to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it bother you that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to come and help me!” The Lord answered, “Martha, Martha! You are worried and upset about so many things, but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is best, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42 CEV
https://bible.com/bible/392/luk.10.38-42.CEV
When I read this I realized, In order for us to experience the full joy and peace of God in our lives, we need to be Mary
The thing is that life mostly demands for us to be Martha and the challenge comes in us as women constantly fighting for that balance
I felt stressed at the prospect of Christmas lunch, the menu, the presentation, the standard then there’s the house…..
I didn’t feel well and I all but made myself miserable trying to figure out how I was going to pull it off cos see it had to “look” like every other Christmas. Problem is I forgot something really important. Christmas is more a feeling than a look. In fact, life is about feelings not aesthetics
All that glitters is not gold. We need to Be careful that our experiences are real, we don’t just want to look the part we want to live the part. We want people to be touched and blessed by our lives, not just to admire our pictures and experiences.
So when I read the story in Luke 10, my initial reaction was to sympathize with Martha. I get Martha, I identify with her, I may even be Martha! But here’s the thing, although none of the things Martha was doing were wrong, she missed an opportunity to be at the feet of Jesus and listen, learn, worship, be blessed
Am I saying she should have not done any of those things……no
I am saying that this story showed me that sometimes we put the pressure on ourselves, we make choices that rob us of our joy and most importantly of our opportunities to meet with Jesus
How do we serve with love if Christ has not filled our hearts?
How do we be the light if we burnt out?
It should always be God first, filling us up so that we can pour that same love, peace, grace, joy out on others
But when we get it twisted, like Martha….then what do we have to accompany a scrumptious meal in a beautiful setting? If you’ve put everything you had into a look or a presentation of something to the point where you are worn out, then don’t be surprised if what you pour out on the ones you love is frustration, bitterness, self pity, anger. All because we got the order wrong
Out of our love for Christ, flows everything else.
I have to purpose to continually allow God to fill me up, to impart His grace, love and wisdom and then I use THAT to bless others
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, not on my own
I love how Jesus told Martha,
Martha, Martha you are worried about many things but only one thing is necessary
Wow
Jesus is that one thing friends!
He also went on to say Mary chose what’s best. This really resonated with me
I have a choice
Sometimes amidst the chaos of festivities and expected commitments that usually come with tradition, one can forget that there is always a choice
From today, I am so going to choose better
I choose to be filled with God’s spirit so that I can serve the way He would want me to.
I encourage you to do the same
Take every opportunity to sit at the feet of Jesus
He is after open hearts ready to receive Him
Busyness, closes you off. It says not now I need to finish this and then…..
The thing with opportunity is they say you not guaranteed of another. So while you have the opportunity, seek God above anything else
Isaiah 55:6 says seek the Lord while He may be found.
Things pass away, seasons change, the world turns but the one thing we can always count on is God’s presence in our lives. That’s what gives us strength. That’s what helps us. So choose better and see your life become better as your focus is Jesus above anything else.