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This past month I went to Ripley, Tennessee, for my nephew’s and his fiancée’s wedding shower at her parents' small church in the Gates community. The fellowship hall was full of friends and family members who came to extend their best wishes and give gifts to the soon-to-wed couple. What struck me most was the number of guests present, considering the size of the church, as well as the comment from the mother of the bride, “All but two or three of the 44 invitees are present.” It got me to thinking.
I thought about the time Jesus went to the home of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42). Martha and Mary were both present but in different degrees. “…Martha welcomed him into her home.” (verse 38) “...Mary, who moreover was listening to the Lord’s word, was seated at His feet.”
All of the ladies attending the shower were there because they chose to be there with Rebekah and Jonathan. Some could have been doing something else, like the older woman who sat beside me and told me her church was celebrating their 180 year birthday. However, she chose to come to the shower instead of staying there for the celebration after the worship service. I’m not saying that either of her choices was more important than the other, but I am pointing out that she had a choice to make. In Martha’s case, she chose to become distracted by the preparations (verse 40) instead of being at the feet of Jesus. She expressed her frustration with her sister to the Lord, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, and Mary has chosen the good part which shall not be taken away from her." (verses 40b-42) Sometimes we can choose to do something we consder good for Jesus, and yet not choose to be in His presence listening to what He diesires to speak to us.
The shower came to an end with Rebekah thanking everyone for coming and bringing their gifts. This brought to my mind another time in scripture when Mary was in Jesus' presence and chose to anoint Him with a bottle of costly perfume. (Matthew 26:6-13) This time He commended her gracious act of love toward Him. When some who were present objected, Jesus asked them, "Why do you bother this woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done shall also be spoken of in memory of her." (verses 10, 13) Whether we are sitting at Jesus' feet or doing a good deed to Him, our choices must be right, as were Mary's.
May We Say Yes to His Word,
Jamie
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