Based on a devotion from Julie Clinton’s Extraordinary
Women series…titled Making a
Difference; I am calling my adaptation A
Tale of Two Sisters.
In Luke, Chapter 10, we encounter two sisters—Martha and
Mary. Now get this picture in your mind:
Martha, scurrying around the house—cooking, cleaning, getting everything ready
for her guests. Mary, sitting calmly at Jesus’ feet. Listening to his every word.
Just as I would have done (and I DO see Martha’s point of view on this), Martha
complained that her sister wasn’t doing anything.
The Lord replied to Martha, “Martha, Martha…you are worried
and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what
is better.”
Do YOU ever feel like Martha? As you rush through your day,
do you ever hear the Lord say to you, “Sarah, Sarah…. Or Janice, Janice….”?
What is that one thing that Jesus spoke of? Being with Him.
Sitting. Listening. Resting. What does it means to serve others out of a heart
like Mary? The focus here is that we are who we spend time with, and we draw our
strength from those whom we spend time with on a regular basis.
As we follow Jesus, we gradually absorb his values and his
heart for people. Slowly, he transforms our hearts so that we care about the
things he cares about: the lost, the hurting, the old, and the young. We
realized that we’re his now: We’re not our own; we’ve been bought with a price.
As his children, he has given us the
unspeakable privilege of making a difference in the lives of those around us.
We aren’t on earth to
“sit, soak, and sour.” God wants to use us as his hands to touch people, his
feet to meet them where they live, and his mouth to speak words of grace and
truth wherever we go. Sometimes, though, you and I became a slave of
doing...like Martha.
We can’t say no. We can’t stop. We’re caught in a crazy
schedule of serving, but we never stop to actually be with Jesus. This kind of
lifestyle robs our souls of nourishment, and eventually leads to burnout.
On the other hand, some of us indulge ourselves in every
possible pleasure that money can buy. We’re addicted to the “cult of the next
thing.” But selfish pursuits always leave us wanting more because, sooner or
later, they make us feel even emptier. This extreme isn’t right either, and it
definitely was not Mary’s attitude. Her
heart to serve was an overflow of
being with Jesus.
Are you up for God
using you in big and small ways? Paul tells us that God has equipped us for that purpose.
It’s crazy to think how God intricately orchestrates the intersection of others’ needs and our abilities to shape their
lives. It’s not an accident—it’s God’s divine design. I bet you have seen this
happen in your life.
But remember this: YOU can’t do everything. You are one
person living in a world full of hurting, needy people. That’s hard to accept,
sometimes…especially when our hearts ache for other people. But that’s where we
desperately need God’s wisdom to know when to say “yes” and when to say “no.”
And where do we get that wisdom? From sitting at Jesus’ feet, just like Mary
did.
God put each of us together uniquely. Some of us are
servants. Some of us can move hearts by speaking God’s word. And some of us can
organize any event. And He did all of this so we can serve him: Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us
to do.
Interesting! This sounds like Martha. But how do we know WHAT to do? By spending
time with our Savior!
We need to be careful about the others that we spend time
with, also. That’s what makes it so
wonderful to be a part of Alpha Delta Kappa and to spend time with our Alpha
Delta Kappa sisters. And because we are
who we spend time with, what better people to surround ourselves with than
exceptional women educators with a heart for altruism and meeting the needs of
others!
So, Sisters: Which sister from this Tale of Two Sisters do you tend to be more like—Martha or Mary?
If you’re like Mary, how can you begin to put your faith into
action?
If you’re like Martha,
how can you begin today to sit at Jesus’ feet, rather than just working for
him?
Some of us can get so busy serving that we’re on the edge of
burnout. We lose our delight in being with God, just like the story of Martha.
If you’re doing too much, stop. Redirect your focus and bask in God’s love for
you. If you’re still frazzled, take a break for a while to recharge and
regroup. (And don’t feel guilty! Rest is biblical.) When you’re ready, you can
come back with passion and energy, rather than living in survival mode.
And don’t worry: God’s work isn’t completely dependent
on YOU; in fact, God may tap some other women on the shoulder to serve while
you’re taking a break.
God’s task of reaching
the world and caring for all the hurting people is far from done, but if you
try to serve in your own energy, you won’t get far. So begin today (and every
day) sitting as Jesus’ feet, so you can gain his perspective and know where to
invest your time and energy to make a
difference in your world. And in this world, surround yourself with other
women who will serve along side you and give you the strength and support you
need!
LET US PRAY: Lord, give us wisdom to know when to serve, and
when to say “no” and just sit at your feet. Thank you for the privilege of
being used by you-- in your will and through your power—to make a difference. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
