It Can Wait
Luke 10:41-42 NLT
"But the Lord said to her, 'My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.' "
Whether it's just my sister coming to town, or a friend visiting that I haven't seen in a while, you will find me running around my house preparing like a mad woman. First, I've got to make sure the guest bath is restocked with toilet paper, toiletries, and linens. Then, I make sure I have an assortment of baked goods on the counter accompanied by a fresh kettle of hot water for tea, and I make sure the refrigerator is full of beverages of all varieties. Before I know it, they're sitting on my couch while I'm still vacuuming the floor and preparing dinner for us. While my hostess efforts are a genuine gesture for my expected company, I've come to find that I spend most of my time running around serving my guest than I do spending time with them. Togetherness far outweighs the tiny details that come with having a guest over. In reality, the baked goods are rarely eaten, the beverage stock usually goes untouched and the toiletries unused. They don't notice the stripes on my carpet from vacuuming and they have to head home five minutes after I sit down to visit with them.
Turns out, if we look to Luke 38-42, I'm not the only hostess out there that has struggled with this problem. When Martha, a friend of Jesus, welcomed him into her home, she found herself in the same predicament. While her sister Mary was sitting with Jesus, listening to everything he had to say, Martha was so consumed by preparing everything for his visit that she was missing the most important part: His presence. Being in the presence of Jesus is so much more important than the details, and when it comes down to it, he doesn't care about the details; He just wants you. I wonder how many of us do this in our relationship with Jesus. So many of us think we must prepare ourselves before coming to Jesus. Thoughts like, "I've got to get my life together first," "I've got to beat this addiction up before I talk to him again," or even "I've got to get some nicer church clothes before I go," come to mind and before we know it, we never do get to be with him. Jesus welcomed us to come as we are. To quit worrying about the details and be in his presence. The dishes can wait. The baked goods can wait. The new wardrobe can wait. The addiction can wait. If we stop being so busy and worrying about the details, I think well be pleasantly surprised that the details never mattered in the first place.
Add comment
Comments