• [email protected]
Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Pinterest
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Christian Life
    • Blessings
    • Forgiveness
    • Identity
    • Relationships
    • The Struggle
    • The Tongue
    • Trust
  • Family
    • Marriage
    • Parenting
  • Spiritual Growth
    • Bible Study
    • God’s Will
    • Knowing God
    • Prayer
    • Salvation
  • Resources
Menu
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Christian Life
    • Blessings
    • Forgiveness
    • Identity
    • Relationships
    • The Struggle
    • The Tongue
    • Trust
  • Family
    • Marriage
    • Parenting
  • Spiritual Growth
    • Bible Study
    • God’s Will
    • Knowing God
    • Prayer
    • Salvation
  • Resources

Martha, The Bustling Woman

A Commentary on Luke 10:38-42 by Mary Elizabeth Baxter (1837-1926). 

There were times, when Jesus was going through the towns and villages with His disciples, that He parted company with them for a time. “As they went, He entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received Him into her house.” Martha was a thorough housewife. All her soul seems to have been in the hospitality which she could afford to her valued Guest. But Martha thought more of what she would like to do for Jesus than of what Jesus would like to have done for Him. She thought of what she would bestow upon Him rather than of what He desired. There was a great deal of self in her hospitality. The truest hospitality is to interfere as little as possible with the habits and wishes of a guest. The truly hospitable housewife does not make herself or her service apparent; she does not load her table or deck out her rooms with ornaments which have to be taken care of, and fill the guest with fear lest he should break or soil everything that he touches. The Christ‐like housewife cares for her guest; not for her furniture: for his comfort, and not for her reputation as a housekeeper or manager. There are some houses in which one feels very uncomfortable, lest one should do the wrong thing, sit in the wrong place, speak the wrong word, or do something at the wrong time. There are other houses where one feels as much at home as in one’s own house. The Shunammite, in giving hospitality to Elisha, studied his taste; but Martha studied her own. She “was cumbered about much serving.” It was true she sought to honour Jesus. All was done for Him, but it was done in her way and not in His way. Her plans were made about the dinner irrespective of His convenience or that of Mary, and so it came to pass that she had far too much to do in the time remaining to her. She got into a bustle and fret, and just as people do in such a condition, began to think whose fault it was. It could not be her fault; had not she been at work from early morning? had she not done everything which mortal woman could do? but that lazy Mary, who was sitting enjoying herself at Jesus’ feet, did not help at all. She wondered that Jesus should encourage her to be so selfish, when there was so much to be done. And, boiling with indignation, she went and interrupted the Master and His disciple, and, seeing everything from her own selfish point of view, thought herself justified in doing so. “Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.” Martha was persuaded that hers was a righteous cause, and being so sure that she was in the right, of course her sister was in the wrong, and she implied that Jesus was in the wrong too. An unrestful spirit can never see straight; she was unprepared for the answer: “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things; but one thing is needful; and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” To one who looks at things only from an earthly point of view, Martha would seem to have reason on her side; but Jesus had come to the house, not for the sake of entertainment, good living, the comfortable room, the tastefully arranged furniture. He sought something very different-worshippers who should “worship the Father in spirit and in truth” (Jhn 4:23), and He had found one in Mary. He wanted appreciative hearts and quiet spirits to take in the things of the kingdom of God, and Martha’s cumbrous service was only a hindrance to Him. He would very much have preferred a cup of milk and a crust of bread to the sumptuous fare which distracted Martha from the things of His kingdom. She met with a rebuke just when she expected Jesus to justify her wounded sense of innocence, and while she thought she had the right on her side, she had, in addition to her household cares, the rebuke of her Master: “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things.” Oh, how many a bustling woman feels it is quite enough to have the dinner in danger of being late, the stockings unmended, visitors neglected, etc., without being complained of! A rebuke when she is in such a spirit is like the straw which breaks the camel’s back! But the bustling woman must come to a stop in order to see her mistake. She cannot listen to Jesus until she learns to be still. She carries all her fever of the kitchen into the dining‐room, and sits down at table with a flurried, flushed, anxious face, not likely to help her guests; she carries the worries and frets she has had with the children into her intercourse with her husband when he comes back from work, and she finds that her moments of prayer are interrupted. She is in too much of a turmoil to realise the presence of her God. “ONE THING IS NEEDFUL,” and the bustling woman possesses it not. It is the habit of listening to the Saviour and taking in from Him that quiet, and strength, and help, which is a power in any life. A quiet spirit with a very simple dinner will cheer the spirits, and help the appetites of, all who are present. A quiet and cheerful spirit with ever so bare and badly furnished a house, will make the visitor feel at home. “A heart at leisure from itself,” like the heart of Jesus, brings the atmosphere of heaven wheresoever it is found. “One thing is needful,”-it is to be one with Jesus under all circumstances; nothing else is absolutely necessary. And this is gloriously, blessedly possible for any true believer who has accepted as a personal experience the great truth of “Christ in you the hope of glory.” (Col 3:27.) Christ in any believer is a quiet still life which listens to and obeys our God.

Join the J2G Community!

Subscribe to Journey to Grateful to receive a new post once a week directly to your inbox. We won't share any information with third party entities or send you junk mail. Just encouragement! Who doesn't want that?
* = required field

powered by MailChimp!

Categories

Follow Journey to Grateful

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr

Popular Posts

What am I thinking?

What am I thinking?

A Worthy Woman

A Worthy Woman

Driveway Moms

Driveway Moms

Nearly Impossible

Nearly Impossible

Trusting God’s Guidance

Trusting God’s Guidance

Tags

Alone approval Blessings certainty children Christmas comparison encouragement faith focus Forgiveness God God's call God's grace God first good things grateful guidance healing hearing God hope Humility identity insecurity Jesus journal joy kindness Knowing God love marriage peace people pleasing prayer presence protection Quiet Time relationship rescue speaking Spirit thankful tongue trust trusting God

Follow J2Grateful on Instagram

How can we bring joy to others in this season? Rea How can we bring joy to others in this season? Read new post (link in bio)
Instagram post 18334061494054808 Instagram post 18334061494054808
'For our light and momentary troubles are achievin 'For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.'

2 Corinthians 4:17-18
I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I c I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him. I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed. Job 23:8-9

In times of prolonged darkness, loneliness, pain and struggle, where is God? I mean, I know what the typical Christian answers are:
–  He’s working behind the scenes to bring good out of my situation –  Romans 8:28
–  He’s up ahead of me, preparing my path – Psalms 23:3
–  He’s teaching me an important lesson and as soon as I have learned, He’ll bring me through – Philippians 2:13
–  He’s right there, I just need to be still and let Him fight for me – Exodus 14:14

I’ve actually posted about most of the above topics and meant what I said about them.

But right now, my home feels like a desert. I can’t see Him. I can’t hear Him. I can’t sense His presence. My heart is very restless, seeking, searching.

So, for all of us, I wanted to post some verses that remind us that God is here even when we can’t find evidence to support it. You may want to bookmark this post and come back to it when you need reassurance of where He is.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Psalms 34:18

In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. Jeremiah 29:12-13

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Psalms 46:1 

The Lord will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me. Psalms 138:8

“Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

So to answer my question, “Where are You, God?”, He whispers, “right here, child…right here.”

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.  Psalms 139:7-10
I had what I consider to be my first serious episo I had what I consider to be my first serious episode of major depression in college. I was clinically diagnosed with major depressive disorder after a year of postpartum depression in 1993. So I’ve been living with this for a long time. And I’ve learned that although it can be debilitating, it is temporary and I will climb out of the pit in time thanks to the grace of God.

Sometimes…
-it’s just a slow sinking feeling like being in quicksand. But there’s nothing I can do to keep from being swallowed whole.
it is relatively mild and cycles through for several weeks.
-it is deep and draining to my core and lasts for months on end.
-there seems to be no reason for it, and sometimes an event, circumstance, or memory can usher in the darkness.

I’m speaking only for myself here.

My depression is…
-The overwhelming blanket of sadness over my entire body that makes it nearly impossible to see anything but darkness.
-The crushing heaviness on my chest that makes it nearly impossible to breathe.
-The unending fatigue and other physical symptoms that make it nearly impossible to rise out of bed each day.
-The isolation that comes because I don’t have the energy to pretend to be okay that makes it nearly impossible to stay connected to friends and community.
-The foggy brain and lack of focus that makes it nearly impossible to accomplish anything productive.
-The overpowering guilt for feeling this way even though things are much better for me than for many others, that makes it nearly impossible to approach friends for help.
-The monumental sense of unworthiness that makes it nearly impossible to approach the throne of God.

As a Christian, I know God is always with me even when I can’t sense His presence. I know He will forgive me for not feeling worthy to commune with Him.

And most importantly, I know what is nearly impossible alone, is possible with God.
If you are battling depression, I encourage you to get in touch with a biblical counselor or a minister at your church. You can also email me directly at j2grateful@gmail.com.
“In prayer it is better to have a heart without “In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.” – John Bunyan
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you w Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Colossians 3:23
Instagram post 17936673248520396 Instagram post 17936673248520396
To be delighted means to be highly pleased, to tak To be delighted means to be highly pleased, to take great pleasure in, to approve. Did you know God feels this way about us? He tells us so in the Bible. Here are a few ways He delights in us.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Journey to Grateful exists to encourage women of all ages and stages of life to trust God in all of their circumstances, and to live with grateful hearts!

Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Pinterest

© 2021 Journey to Grateful

Made with ❤ with Elementor​