WHO GOES FIRST?
“She had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and listened to His words.” —Luke 10:39
Martha is a great saint because she accepted Jesus’ correction. Jesus corrected Martha not because she was too busy, anxious, or critical. Jesus corrected Martha because she was only a worker for the Lord and not a disciple of the Lord.
A mere worker sets the agenda. A disciple sits at the feet of Jesus, prays each morning for the Lord to open his ear (Is 50:4), and then takes orders from his Lord.
A worker can feel anxious and upset because he’s in charge of his life and work (see Lk 10:41). A disciple is at rest, for Jesus’ yoke is easy and His burden light (Mt 11:30).
A person who works for the Lord but isn’t His disciple prays for God’s help, while a disciple prays to help God.
A mere worker for the Lord initiates activity, but a disciple doesn’t move until the Lord moves (see Ex 40:37; Ps 123:2). With Jesus, we as disciples do nothing by ourselves but only what we see the Father doing (Jn 5:19).
The Lord wants more than workers for the harvest (see Mt 9:37); He wants disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19). Don’t just invite Jesus into your life; rather, be a disciple and lose your life in Him (see Lk 9:23-24).
PRAYER: Father, “I have decided to follow Jesus” and not to tell Him to follow me.
PROMISE: “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” —Jn 11:25
PRAISE: St. Martha made one of the greatest professions of faith: “I have come to believe that You are the Messiah, the Son of God: He Who is to come into the world” (Jn 11:27).
