I Said YesSample

Two Sisters Meet Jesus

My parents are known by their love for Jesus and their radical hospitality. On most Sundays, my mother would prepare an incredible meal with enough to feed not just our family of seven, but also another 10 guests! We rarely knew who these guests would be, but we were always prepared. 

Earlier that morning while my parents were sitting at the church service, their eyes would scan the room for anyone who was new to our church. They would introduce themselves at the end of the service and invite them over for dinner. It may sound crazy, but hundreds of families accepted our invitation over the years!

During the time we had between church and dinner, my entire family would frantically get to work. My siblings and I were required to clean the house and make it presentable for our guests. Looking back, some of my very best friends in life were made at those impromptu dinner parties. 

In our story today, Jesus and His 12 disciples were the guests at a special dinner party. They were invited by a woman named Martha, who had a brother named Lazarus and a sister named Mary.

Martha was a typical type-A personality: driven and hard working. I think Martha was the oldest of the siblings because Luke’s Gospel tells us Jesus was welcomed into her home. From the outside looking in, she had her life organized and her priorities straight. Like any good host, Martha busied herself by making her guests feel welcome and comfortable. She’s concerned primarily with serving her guests. After all, it was her house!

As she peered into the room to check on Jesus and the other guests, she saw her sister sitting with them. This made Martha upset. She had her hands full and Mary was hanging out with Jesus! Didn’t Mary care about all that needed to get done for the meal that night?

But how Jesus speaks to Martha and her siblings might surprise you:

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.”

Martha was doing a good thing, but Mary chose a better thing. When Jesus was with her, she wanted to spend time with Him. Mary valued spending time with Jesus and made time with Him a priority in her life. Martha thought she had her priorities straight, but Jesus pointed out that they were actually upside down. Martha needed to know that being with Jesus was the most important thing of all. He is the only true answer to her anxious and troubled spirit.

When Mary said, “Yes!” to Jesus, her priorities changed. God became number one. And that day, Martha learned the importance of being with God over doing the things she had thought mattered most. 

Busyness is one of the trickiest enemies of spiritual growth. We think we’re busy doing all of the right things but before we know it, we’ve missed out on the best thing – spending time with God. When you say “Yes” to Jesus, God becomes number one. Don’t let busyness get in the way of investing your life in the One who matters most.

When you say “Yes” to Jesus, you choose to prioritize your relationship with God first – especially when life gets busy! 

  

Reflection Questions

1. Who do you relate to more, Mary or Martha? Why?
2. When is the best time of day for you personally to spend time with God? How can you make sure this is a priority in your life?
3. What are some of the things you would like to learn by spending time with God over the coming months? Write them down and share them with a friend for accountability.