Mary Heart, Martha World, Week 2

Kristie led our group for week two, this is her summary:

Have you ever asked “Lord, don’t you care?” Martha did and that was the focus of our study this week.

After looking again at Luke 10:38-42, it was interesting to note on page 18 “Martha’s pursuits were far from trivial…In fact, the ‘preparations’ Martha pursued were described by Luke as diakonia –the New Testament word for ministry.” Here was a woman who was ministering to Jesus and his followers…she opened her home and was preparing them a meal, but somewhere along the way she got off track. How can we make sure that we don’t make the same mistake?

We looked at two other examples in the Bible: Elijah in 1 Kings 19:1-18 and Jonah in Jonah 3:10-4:11. In both cases, these men were working for the Lord and great things were happening. But both men find themselves isolated and discouraged. Elijah let fear lead him to despair. Jonah let his anger and sense of injustice lead him to want to give up on life. In both cases (and also with Martha) God did not come and accuse them, but instead He used it as a teaching moment to show them they were on the wrong track. One of the things that Jonah fussed at God about was actually what we need God to be:

“I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.” Jonah 4:2

The book focused on how Martha got to the point that she asked “Lord, don’t you care?” The book suggests Satan uses “Three Deadly Ds of Destruction”.

DISTRACTION “Get people’s eyes off God and on their circumstances” page 17.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2-3

DISCOURAGEMENT “Breaks down our perspective and our defenses” page 19.
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:12-13

DOUBT “If he can’t make us doubt God’s existence, Satan will do his best to make us doubt God’s love” page 22. We looked at God’s love for us in Psalm 103 and Jesus’ encounter with Thomas in John 20:24-31.

We closed with three lessons we learn from Martha’s encounter with Jesus:

1. We can bring our needs to Jesus anytime and anywhere. Philippians 4:6

2. Jesus really cares about what concerns us. Psalm 17:6 and 1 Peter 5:7

3. Jesus loves us enough to confront us when our attitude is wrong. Hebrews 12:6 and Revelation 3:19