Be a Mary in a Martha World

If you’re anything like me, you love to be busy. You love to just do, do, do. You feel the most accomplished when you can take that list you’ve created and just check off the boxes. What I picture in my head is a little fairy that flits around with a great, big, feathered pen and, as things are accomplished, she swoops in and emphatically puts a huge check mark on the box. Mission accomplished!

Now there is nothing wrong with “getting things done”. In fact, we are asked to be productive citizens of the kingdom. The Bible does in fact say in Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” So even God is glad that we go do for him and for his kingdom.

But here’s the thing. He created us as Human Beings - not Human Doings.  Yes, we should go out and do. Yes, we should be productive. Yes, the work of the Lord is good. But, most importantly, he really wants us to just “be” with him. Just BE - not always DO. 

So, what do we do? How do we get off the proverbial ‘hamster wheel’ and just BE?

Let’s dive in.

Our church just started a new series called, “Abide” and the entire first week of January, the church is opening its doors, every single day to offer people the moment to just spend time with God. It’s kind of a gorgeous picture, right? The doors of the church are always open for people to gather and be in the presence of God. I LOVE IT!

So, what exactly does “ABIDE” mean? Merriam Webster has several definitions, one being “to remain in a place”. In other words, just “BE” in a place where God is. And where is that? He’s everywhere. Wherever you want to find and just BE with him, he’s there.

There’s a story in the Bible many of you are probably already familiar with. The sisters of Lazarus - Martha and Mary - were given the greatest privilege of having Jesus and his disciples to their home for a “dinner party”.

Now, if you have ever hosted a dinner party, like the one Jesus is coming to, you know that there’s always tons to do. Tons! And you pretty much have to run around and get it all ready. 

Well, Martha is running around doing all the work for this party while Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus, fully tuned in to what he is sharing. Martha comes close and speaks to Jesus. Here’s the story from Luke 10:38-42:

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus[a] entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. [b] Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

I’m sure Martha walked away huffing and puffing. I may have been known to do the same thing when I don’t get my way. Well, that’s another story for another time. 

But do you see the important part? Don’t miss it! Of all that needed to be done, could be done, should be done, Jesus reminds Martha this: only “one thing is necessary”. What is it? Here it is - Spending time at the feet of Jesus.

Mary fully understood this. In all the busyness of her world, she simply sat down at the feet of Jesus and abided there. She had chosen “the good portion”. What a beautiful thing. Simply abiding with Jesus and receiving the “good portion” of the presence of him. Mary embraced this gift. Martha missed it. How sad.

At church today, this really spoke to me. How often do I just ‘ABIDE’ with him? Do I ever make the time? Or do I let the “busyness” of my world simply push him to the side. If I am being honest, I simply push him to the side more often than not. And that, my friends, is just plain sad. Instead of seeking the “one thing necessary”, I most often seek all the “necessary” things that the world offers. Like jobs. Friendship. Companionship. Success. And what I feel prompted to say to you and to me is, ‘STOP SEEKING THE WORLD AND SIMPLY SEEK HIM’. If we seek him, we can “ABIDE” with him.

ABIDE. Don’t you just love that word? Remember it means - “remain in a place”. To me the word conjures up a sweet picture of little kids with a parent. Often little kids just show up by you and want to crawl into your lap. Perhaps to hear a story. Perhaps to just ‘abide’. You know, “remain” in the presence of you. It is the sweetest of gifts. Abiding.

I fully know that Jesus feels the same about us. He loves when we come close, crawl into his lap, and just soak in his presence. He loves when we abide. When we do, his presence brings warmth. His presence brings safety and peace. His presence whispers to our soul that he adores us. He Loves us. He treasures us. He calls us friend. And when those moments come, when we abide in him, we feel renewed, replenished, and refocused on what’s important. 

So, what’s the point? I’ll say it again - ‘STOP SEEKING THE WORLD AND SEEK HIM’. Draw close and simply abide. He will fill us. He will renew us. He will be our shepherd and guide us through all things. I want to do that! I want to seek him first. I want to abide with him and remember that his plans for me are good. His plans for you are good.

I don’t know what abiding with him looks like for you. Perhaps it’s a cup of coffee and a good devotional. Perhaps it’s a walk in the rain and soaking in the drops that wash all our cares away. Or maybe it’s listening to a sweet song that speaks directly from him to you, but whatever it is for you, whatever it is for me, I encourage both of us to grab this gift - the gift of abiding with him and simply soaking in his presence.

I venture to say that when we abide with him, our worlds will be so vastly different and so wildly blessed that we would shudder under the joy that it would bring. So, Lord, like this song says, draw me close and teach me to abide. What a beautiful, beautiful thing.

‘Til next time, friend,

Many blessings,

Nikki

Don’t miss this gorgeous song about abiding with him - ABIDE - The Worship Initiative featuring Aaron Williams and Dwell Songs

Abide Lyrics - The Worship Initiative - YouTube