Martha

I’m an Eastern Star, and one of the star’s five points belongs to Martha. I have sat in her emerald green chair for two different years, and in doing so, I have made a discovery!

I have a Martha’s heart! Martha was real! Not only was she a real person, but she was also real with Jesus.

You see, Martha was a sister to one of Jesus’ best friends, Lazarus! So, Martha was used to Jesus hanging around, that he was like just one of the other guys, but of course, He was not!

Here’s where it gets good! Martha knew Jesus as Christ and followed and believed in “The Way,” but she also knew him as a friend. ❤️

Luke 10:38-42 NLT: “As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come help me.’

But, the Lord said to her, ‘My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

I feel sorry for Martha; she’s got 12 disciples: Jesus, her brother, her sister, and who knows who else to feed. She’s in the kitchen up to her armpits cooking, peeling, roasting, and it’s hot; she’s sweating, tired, and has the martyr role going on.

Can you picture it? I can. I have been in Martha’s shoes, busy in the kitchen while everyone else is in my front room; I grew up in the kitchen with my grandma, hearing the Martha grumble as she toiled away cooking the holiday meal while everyone else had fun in the other room!

I love that Martha bustled right before Jesus and let her heart, feelings, and attitude show. I love that she had a close enough relationship with him to be honest, to be herself! Might we learn from Martha?

We are learning and practicing real, honest prayers with Jesus And real, honest talking, walking, and working relationships with Jesus. We need to take away the essential part of this message, and that’s Jesus explaining to Martha that the trappings of this world are secondary to learning the message of Christ and his loving gift of salvation.

I will stop here as this is the first part of a two-part message about being a Martha…

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank you for loving us, Marthas, the hens that cluck around her chicks striving to get it all done, get it all right, and for wearing ourselves out trying to be! Thank you for your message telling us to slow down, look up, reflect on your peace and love, and take a breath. Thank you, Lord, for you! In your glorious name Lord Jesus, I pray! Amen 😌