This post is Day 17 in a series of studies about “Mary’s of the Bible”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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Mary’s of the Bible – Day 17

Mary and Martha are known for their different attitudes to Jesus. Mary was fascinated by, and determined to learn more from Jesus, and was hanging on His every word. Martha was intent on using her culinary skills and serving the very best meal to this honoured guest and His entourage.

Luke 10:38-39

As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said.

The Thought

The sisters Mary and Martha are well known partly because of their different attitudes to Jesus. Mary was fascinated by the visitor, and determined to learn more from Jesus, and was hanging on His every word. Martha was intent on using her culinary skills and serving the very best meal to this honoured guest and His entourage.

Practical Martha was busy in the kitchen and irritated because her sister was not helping, but was “doing nothing” but listening to the guest. Martha thought it most important to serve this guest while half listening to what He said. But Mary completely forgot her household responsibilities in her fascination with the words of this amazing teacher.

Many years after this event, the writer of the book of Hebrews told us: Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it (Hebrews 13:2).

There would certainly have been angels in Mary and Martha’s house that day when Jesus came! Many friends who were there might have sensed their presence, but Martha was too irritated with her sister to notice. How sad!

Action

Read Luke 10:38-42 today.

Would you be at the feet of Jesus taking in all He was teaching, not wanting to miss anything. Or would you think it more important to be the hostess and to work in the kitchen preparing something special for this honoured guest?

How do you react to visitors to your home? Maybe you live alone and never invite people home. Challenge yourself to change that by inviting someone to come for a chat. They might bring angels with them!

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