It happened suddenly. Yes, it was like a bolt of lightning. Please allow me to digress a little to relate to you my story. It happened one Wednesday evening while meditating on what ‘life experience’ subject to present to the Senior Members Organization Ministry at my church. You see, every 4th Thursday of each month, the Senior’s President had appointed me the task to lead an informal ‘chit-chat’ with the members entitled, “Let’s Talk!”

Naturally, I put on my thinking cap…glanced at my book shelf, leafed through a few AARP magazines when out of no where, lightning struck.You see, I received a ‘revelation’ that shook me to my core. I felt fundamentally challenged and intimidated.

That particular mourning, during my preparation of this assignment, the Holy Spirit placed on my heart to challenge the group with the following question…”Why do you believe God allowed the Holy Spirit to record references/events of the family of Martha, Mary and Lazarus to be recorded in biblical scriptures more than 3 times?”

Praise God! Here are those Scriptures: Luke 10:38-42; John 11:1-45; John 12:1-3

Since Martha was the older sibling of both her sister and brother, she displayed a 'take charge' nature and personality concerning everything.  And like today, many older brothers and sisters in your families have an irritating tendency to do the same.
   
Back in Jesus' day, Hebrew families welcomed into their homes total strangers for lodging and nourishments.  And as the scriptures record, Mary, the younger sibling, seemed derelict in her duties to support her older sister when highly important people came calling, such as Jesus and His disciples.  Martha always exhibited her perfect hospitable manners.  For in those days, it was considered shameful to turn away anyone from your door.

 Martha's demeanor as the older sibling was to 'take charge' of the situation.  Jesus was having none of that.  Once, when Martha approached Jesus and asked Him to admonish her sister, Mary, to accompany her in the preparation of food for everyone.  Jesus replied, Martha, you are over zealous for the wrong thing.  Your desire is to make sure everybody does the right thing and certainly not to embarrass the family.  Your sister, Mary, wants to hear My progress report of how "The Way" is progressing.

Have you or someone you know acted in a Martha-take-charge manner.  Can you, yourself, identify with a "Martha" disposition.  Can you agree that Mary's preference to kneel at the feet of Jesus and listen to Him is always the perfect position to be in.  According to Scripture, Jesus visited this family's home or at least the city of this family quit often.  But Martha's priorities in life caused her to miss valuable messages Jesus brought her way.  It would have been better for Martha if she had mimicked the actions of her baby sister.

Another incident that scripture recalls about the busyness personality of Martha was when her brother Lazarus died.  It was during that time that Martha sent for Jesus.  However, Jesus delayed his coming.   Martha could hardly restrain herself when she heard Jesus was finally coming.  When Jesus arrived at the house, Martha berated Him and expressed her inner conflict of her disappointment in Jesus' slothfulness in His coming.  Martha indicated to Jesus, had He come when she first asked Him to come, Martha was sure her brother would not have died.  Jesus informed Martha that she should have known that He was the Ruler over Death and Life!

Actually, Martha's personality and business had prevented her from learning about Jesus' super natural powers.  (She had been out in her back yard chasing chickens to catch and fry for Jesus' supper.)
 

Wake up world. It’s Kingdom building time.

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