Oswald Chambers wrote: “If human love does not carry a man beyond himself, it is not love. If love is always discreet, always wise, always sensible and calculating, never carried beyond itself, it is not love at all. It may be affection, it may be warmth of feeling, but it has not the true nature of love in it.”

Love isn’t true when one is wrapped up in themselves ~ or in their circumstances. Love takes one beyond themselves … and into the presence of the Lord. “Martha, dear Martha, you are fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential and Mary has chosen it–it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.” [Luke 10:41-42]

I love that He said, “Martha, dear Martha…” He loves us Marthas too.

While preparing a meal for guests recently, I was “perfecting” [ha!] the details of the menu.  Being “sensible and calculating” over the timing and the readiness of the meal: Entree baking; check! Roasted veggies sliced, oiled, seasoned, and baking; check! Sweet potato casserole ready for the oven when it’s free; check! Then it came to me…

What about the spirit of the home? I was Martha-prepared to welcome my guests into my home. But I was not Mary-ready.         I was being pulled away by all I had to do in the kitchen and was neglecting the main course.

Hubby had been away from the house almost all day. I was about to exclaim ‘Martha words’…”Don’t you care that my sister [Mary] has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand!” Then the Spirit of God spoke.

“Martha had a sister named Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word He said.” [10:39]

It was time to prepare for the Main Course! He came.