now, one thing is necessary, Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.*
Jesus has entered a certain village and a woman named Martha had welcomed him into her home. Martha had called her sister Mary who was sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to his words but Martha became distracted by "much serving." The scripture says she got so upset she came into the room saying "Lord do you not care that my sister left me to do all the serving." Jesus said "Martha, Martha you are anxious and troubled about many things, now, Martha has chosen the good part."
Lately, my mind has been anxious and troubled, about many things. The other night as I sat in bed, I had a vivid experience, it was like I too was there, sitting at the feet of Jesus experiencing the good part. The word part also means a share, a portion.* Martha had hosted Jesus in her home and was busy serving Him but it was Mary who was experiencing the good portion, being in the presence of Jesus, listening to his words, sharing. My experience soon turned into that of another woman who chose the good part, "at his feet she begins to bath his feet with her tears, also she wiped his feet with her hair and kissed them also pouring perfume on them."* I was reminded of the good part and cried. How often do we become like Martha, and the Pharisees, serving, giving, and complaining... missing the good part.
Serving is unto the Lord, it is from the strength of the Lord, sharing in his portion, which requires us to at first sit at his feet. As Jesus said this is the good part, the part that is necessary. Some might look at this as being selfish, saying you need to be helping with the serving. Some might look down upon you, like the Pharisee who thought how could Jesus allow this sinner to touch him, to wipe her tears on his feet. She experienced Jesus, and could say "shackled by the heavy burden 'neath a load of guilt and shame.Then the hand of Jesus touched me. He touched me."
Some like Martha are anxious and troubled, serving but not sharing in the good part. Lord, we pray like Mary may we not be distracted in serving, missing the good part, before being at your feet. May we choose the good part, experiencing your portion.
Lately, my mind has been anxious and troubled, about many things. The other night as I sat in bed, I had a vivid experience, it was like I too was there, sitting at the feet of Jesus experiencing the good part. The word part also means a share, a portion.* Martha had hosted Jesus in her home and was busy serving Him but it was Mary who was experiencing the good portion, being in the presence of Jesus, listening to his words, sharing. My experience soon turned into that of another woman who chose the good part, "at his feet she begins to bath his feet with her tears, also she wiped his feet with her hair and kissed them also pouring perfume on them."* I was reminded of the good part and cried. How often do we become like Martha, and the Pharisees, serving, giving, and complaining... missing the good part.
Serving is unto the Lord, it is from the strength of the Lord, sharing in his portion, which requires us to at first sit at his feet. As Jesus said this is the good part, the part that is necessary. Some might look at this as being selfish, saying you need to be helping with the serving. Some might look down upon you, like the Pharisee who thought how could Jesus allow this sinner to touch him, to wipe her tears on his feet. She experienced Jesus, and could say "shackled by the heavy burden 'neath a load of guilt and shame.Then the hand of Jesus touched me. He touched me."
Some like Martha are anxious and troubled, serving but not sharing in the good part. Lord, we pray like Mary may we not be distracted in serving, missing the good part, before being at your feet. May we choose the good part, experiencing your portion.