God’s People on Mission

Mary and Martha: Devotion

Most of us have heard of, if not even read the book by Gary Chapman, the Five Love Languages:  Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Physical Touch, Acts of Service and Receiving Gifts.  Ways we naturally, even most effectively express and receive love.  Maybe you’ve even determined what your own love languages are, and if so, then hopefully also those dear to you.

We’re all different – none better than the other, and so understanding how we are wired helps us know what fills our tank, and, as we communicate, helps those we love to help us to keep that tank topped up.  I think that’s how it goes, I read the book a long time ago.

I was reflecting on this, and realized that Jesus had something to say on the subject too.  It unfolds as two of His beloved friends express their love for Him.  We read of that event in Luke 10:

38Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40But Martha was distracted with much serving (Luke 10:38 – 40)

It seems that Martha’s devotion was expressed through acts of service, Mary on the other hand appears to gravitate towards quality time.  What’s interesting is that Jesus seems to indicate that one might be better than the other – He certainly validated Mary’s love in sitting and hearing Him speak.

I’m certain that He warmly received the devotion of both women, and that He loved them equally.  But it is this idea of devotion that I’d like us to consider today as we seek to be people on Mission, ready for God to move in and through us.  With that in mind: I’d like to ask you how you express your love and devotion towards Jesus?  Maybe these 5 love-languages could be a reference to help you answer that question.

For example: We are all challenged when Jesus highlights our need to express our love for Him through acts of service directed towards others.  We hear, and are confronted by His words:

inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me. (Matthew 25:45)

The context of this passage is critical, for sure, but it also shows the heart of our Lord, and what should move us to service. Yet equally, we are drawn to Mary’s actions, to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear His Words, along with Jesus’ response to this:

But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, (Luke 10:42)

Along with this, we are also drawn to another act of devotion, that occurred when Jesus dined at the home of Simon who was a Pharisee.  On that occasion, a woman (described as a sinful woman) interrupted their gathering and extravagantly expressed her love and devotion upon Jesus through pouring fragrant oil over Him and washing His feet with her tears, and wiping them with her hair.  It doesn’t surprise us when Simon was offended and critical when Jesus received her devotion, but Jesus responded:

“Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”  (Luke 7:44 – 47)

It is easy for us to forget our need to express our devotion to our Lord.  But it is important that we reflect and act on this.  Maybe you could take time today to do that.  It might well be through some of those ‘languages’ that Chapman has so clearly articulated for us – and it might be received by someone we know, or even a stranger – but let it be extravagant, knowing that as we love others, just like when we give Him quality time, we are directing our devotion towards the Lord.