If Jesus sat in your living room tonight, would you rush to plate the perfect meal—or pause to hear the perfect Word?
M — Moment
Bethany, a village just outside Jerusalem, hummed with dust, ovens, and conversation. Hospitality wasn’t optional; it was sacred. When Martha “welcomed” Jesus into her home (Luke 10:38), she didn’t just set a table—she opened her life, space, and resources to the Son of God, a courageous devotion in its time.
I — Identity
At her core, Martha loved by doing. Competent, dependable, detail-oriented, she carried weight many others could not or would not carry. She believed love meant shouldering the work—until the work began to shoulder her.
R — Right Choices
Don’t miss Martha’s bright faith. She opened her home to Jesus when others hesitated. And when Lazarus died, she ran toward Jesus, confessing, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God” (John 11:27). The “busy one” was also a theologian whose trust rang clear in grief.
R — Risks/Wrongs
Martha’s danger wasn’t sinful rebellion but spiritual substitution—mistaking service for intimacy. She worked for Jesus while missing being with Jesus. Jesus’ tender, doubled address—“Martha, Martha”—named her anxiety and redirected her aim toward “the better portion.” The Greek note that she was periespato—“pulled around in circles”—captures our modern whirl: full calendars, thin souls. Presence before performance.
O — Ongoing Message
Love shows up in work, but work cannot replace worship. The “better portion” echoes Psalm 16:5: the Lord Himself is our portion and cup. Mary chose the One at the table, not the tasks around it. That reorders everything—listening before leading, relationship before responsibility.
R — Reflection
Where do you feel invisible, overburdened, or unseen—the one who remembers the birthdays, plans the meals, pays the bills? Hear Jesus repeat your name as He did Martha’s—gentle, knowing, near. Your worth is not the sum of your output; it is anchored in His presence.
S — Steps (Small Steps You Can Take This Week)
- Begin with stillness. Before you say “yes,” sit for five minutes with Jesus. Breathe a simple prayer: “You are my portion.”
- Replace multitasking with mindful service. Turn chores into prayer—name people you love as you fold, stir, or sweep. If needed, choose takeout to create time for presence.
- Ask for help. Don’t triangulate; invite others into the ministry of the moment. Many hands make light work.
- Sabbath without guilt. Rest is obedience, not indulgence. God enjoys your company more than your competence.
- Rehearse the truth. Say aloud: “I am loved, not evaluated.” Jesus stayed for dinner even when Martha missed the moment; His love rests on His nature, not your performance.
Closing
The final snapshot of Martha is striking. In John 12 she is still serving—but now with calm, without complaint. Service and stillness finally hold hands. This is our aim: not to stop being Marthas, but to become Marthas who have learned Mary’s posture—hearts anchored in Presence, hands free to serve in peace. Jesus delights in your company more than He delights in your competence. Choose Him as your portion today.