My Thoughts For Sunday, 15 March 2015

Women of the Bible---Part 3---Martha, The Worker-bee Sister of Mary and Lazarus of Bethany

I like the term the American Bible Society pinned on Martha, It seems very fitting. However, besides being what we term today as a workaholic, Martha had some much deeper traits and tendencies that can be of great example to many, if not all, of us today as we follow ever closer in the footsteps of Jesus. Their term for Martha was "worker-bee" which in today's society might be translated as a workaholic, one who never seems to run out of menial tasks to undertake. Perhaps you know one of these types, or maybe you are one yourself. I know I have gone through times in my life when that title was tied to me for lengthy periods. It seemed that there was always so much to do and so little time. Martha had one of these periods in her life that was recorded for our benefit and instruction. This is recorded for us at Luke 10:38-40 (NIV2011) "As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” Here we see poor Martha working to get everything in order and attempting to get Jesus to take her side in the matter. This reply from Jesus is the lesson and instruction for us in our all to busy lives. Luke 10:41-42 (NIV2011) “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.” Here is that very simple yet profound lesson Jesus gave to Martha and gives today to each and every one of us. Yes, it is important to work for our own needs and earthly survival, but this work should never take the place of sitting at the feet of Jesus, so to speak, and hearing the great lessons and promises He has in store for those who take the time to love Him and desire to learn from Him. Have you had friends or family visiting that you haven't seen in a long time? Do you want to impress them with a great meal and share that extra time with them because you love them? Listen again to what Jesus told Martha so long ago, “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one..." What better way to spend time with long absent friends or family than sharing your church family with them. Invite them to worship with you and hear the Word of God, virtually at the feet of Jesus. Let them see the true love you have for Jesus and how it spills over to them as well. If they have a church, this is good but they should still be willing to hear the Word of God as they would at their own home church. If they are un-churched, what greater gift could you offer them than to hear the Word of the Grace your Lord and Savior has given so freely to you. Another account of Martha, we find in Scripture, is a display of her tremendous faith. This is a lesson for us in this day of trial and tribulation as we all need to cultivate this level of love for our Lord and experience the great outpouring of faith we receive from the Holy Spirit. We return to Bethany, the home of Martha and her sister, Mary and their brother Lazarus who was a very close and intimate friend of Jesus. The account reads that Lazarus was very ill and the sisters sent word to Jesus to come and heal him. When He got the news this was His statement; John 11:4 (NIV2011) "When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” He delayed His return for a couple of days and then told His disciples John 11:11 (NIV2011) "After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” They thought Jesus meant actual sleep, so He had to be more specific with these words John 11:14-15 (NIV2011) " So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Approaching Bethany, Martha came to meet Him and declared that had He been there Lazarus would not have died but she knew that Jesus would set things right. Jesus told her "Your brother will rise again" and she admitted she knew he would rise on the last day, confirming her faith and belief in the resurrection. This is where Jesus makes that very wonderful and profound promise to all believers; John 11:25-26 (NIV2011) "Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Here, Martha made that very sure statement of faith that we should all be living by today. She said; John 11:27 (NIV2011) “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” What better statement could be made by anyone than believing the truth of the divinity and purpose of our Savior who came once to redeem us and will come again to take us all home to live with Him. I pray we all take to heart the lessons we have just read from Martha and Jesus and welcome the gift the Holy Spirit is bestowing on us; that wondrous gift of faith. Come back in the next weeks as we visit Sarah, wife of Abraham and Rebekah, wife of Isaac. Garner more lessons from Women of the Bible.