Few of us, if any...enjoy being called out in front of others and ‘corrected’.

Whether it’s a parent who does the calling out, a boss, a teacher, or a coach, we would prefer they do it in private to spare our pride/ego. So imagine how Martha must have felt when it was Jesus doing the reprimanding in front of her sister, and the disciples who were with Jesus at that time, and in her own home at that. Then to think it was recorded in the gospel of Luke for all of human history who would follow to hear about it as well. But there it is for us to see and learn from. (Luke 10:38-42)

Ever feel like you are being made an ‘example’...for others to learn from? Maybe we would do well to take a few notes from what happened to Martha, especially if you are one who is prone to always jumping up ready to ‘get busy serving’...instead of taking your cue from Mary who chose the more important thing in that moment.

You’re probably familiar with the story that is recorded for us in Luke’s gospel. Jesus and His disciples have come into town and are welcomed into the home of Martha and Mary, presumably the same two sisters of Lazarus (John 11:1). Whether this was planned or unannounced, we do not know; but it was Martha who immediately kicks into gear and started preparing to host the crowd. We all know that drill, a quick sweep through the house to pick up clutter and then to the kitchen to start preparing food and drinks to serve the guests.

But we read in verse 39 that Mary took a place on the floor sitting near the feet of Jesus to ‘hear His word’.

The contrast is loud and clear as we are told in the very next verse: “But Martha was distracted...with much serving...”(40).

In fact, Martha was so irked that she carved out a few precious seconds to approach Jesus herself, but not to hear nor reflect on what He was sharing at that moment in time.

“Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”

Imagine the audacity to start giving Jesus orders and telling Him what you think He should be doing!. That’s probably what earned her the public reprimand that was swift and to the point.

“Martha, Martha...you are worried and troubled about many things.” (41).

I could be wrong, but Jesus may have been speaking into her life then that went well beyond what was happening in the kitchen at that specific moment. This would not be the first time Jesus lets it be known that we humans can easily become overly preoccupied with the ‘cares of this life’ and at the expense of missing out on what matters most (Matt. 6:25-33; Mark 4:18-19).

And don’t we all love it when our own sibling is commended for making the better choice as Jesus does there by pointing out how only “one thing that was needed in that moment...and Mary had made the best choice!” (42).

In the eyes of Martha...Mary wasn’t ‘doing anything’’ other than just sitting there on her ‘you know what’ and being ‘all spiritual and stuff’... listening to Jesus.

So many layers we could peel back here I suspect, but I’ll leave that with you and the Holy Spirit to do, that is if you are willing to take the time to simply ‘be still and know He is God’ (Ps. 46:10).

Trust me...it’s much easier to throw our mind and thoughts into ‘auto-pilot’ and just get busy working for Jesus, than it is to sit at His feet and let Him speak into your heart in the quietness and stillness of the moment. Doing that can be painfully awkward and challenging. In fact, I would think many of us really are not sure how to do that, nor do we even want to attempt it. Do you know why? Getting before Him and simply being still and quiet makes us vulnerable. It seems that God has this thing about wanting to address what is residing deep within us...and that is the exact reason we hate putting ourselves in that position; we know what’s in us and it shames us. So what better ‘counter’ action is there than to get up and start ‘doing things for God’ to numb that pain?

I wonder if that is what happened to all those folks in Matt. 7:22-23 who were eventually told by Jesus: “I don’t know you!”

Friends...Jesus did not come to shame nor condemn us (John 3:17-18), as He already knows what’s in our hearts. This is why He bids us to ‘come to Him’...so He can begin the process of exposing and then cleansing and healing our messed up hearts (Mark 7:6,21-23). And until He does this, we are useless to Him. Go read 1 Cor. 13:1-8 again with a fresh new set of eyes and see if that doesn’t resonate with you.

God wants to talk and commune with you. Trust me...He knows about all the ‘yet-to-be-done business’ out there along with the countless unmet needs in this dark and painful world; but that’s not on you to fix and tend to....yet! Remember...even Jesus left a lot of unfinished ‘business’ after His three years of ministry, but we also learn from Him that He ‘only did what the Father commanded Him to do’ (John 5:19; 6:38; 8:26; 14:31).

I’m sure many will ‘not get’ what the point of this message is today, and others will be quick to want to pop up and say...’Yeah, but what about...?’

But if there was ever a time that God’s ‘sheep’ were dialed in and listening for His voice which they ‘should know’ (John 10:27), that time is now. And it won’t be enough to just ‘hear His voice’...following through and ‘doing his sayings’ is what will protect you from the coming floods (Matt. 7:24-27; Ps. 91).

Be like Mary...and choose the better part (Luke 10:42).