The Art of Receiving: Finding Rest in God

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38–42

Hello fellow pilgrims on this beautiful journey of faith! It’s lovely to connect with you all today, and I’m so excited to delve into a passage that resonates deeply with the heart of what it means to be a follower of Christ.

We’re all familiar with the story of Martha and Mary, a tale that’s been recounted countless times, yet always seems to offer fresh insights. It’s a snapshot of a scene that’s so human, so relatable. Martha, bustling about, trying to be the perfect host, ensuring everything is just right for Jesus. And Mary, utterly captivated by His presence, sitting at His feet, soaking in every word.

Now, let’s be honest, we’ve all been Martha at some point, haven’t we? We’ve all felt the pressure to perform, to serve, to do something for God. We’ve felt the weight of expectations, the sense that if we’re not actively contributing, we’re somehow falling short. Martha’s frustration is palpable. She’s working hard, and she sees her sister, seemingly idle, while the workload piles up. “Lord,” she protests, “don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

And Jesus, in His infinite wisdom and gentle love, responds, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”¹

This passage isn’t about condemning service. Far from it. Service is a vital part of our faith. Jesus Himself came to serve, not to be served. But it’s about the priority of our service. It’s about recognizing that true service flows from a place of deep communion with God.

Many of us, myself included, have fallen into the trap of thinking that our value to God lies in what we do for Him. We believe that the more we serve, the more we give, the more we sacrifice, the more we please Him. And while these actions are important, they’re not the foundation of our relationship with God.

The passage highlights a crucial truth: it’s not always better to give than to receive, especially when it comes to our relationship with the Lord. In our human relationships, giving is a beautiful expression of love and generosity. But with God, it’s about understanding that He is the source of all good things. He is the giver, and we are the receivers.

Think about it. Jesus calls Himself the “bread of life.” Bread is essential for nourishment, for sustenance. It’s not something we create; it’s something we receive. Jesus is saying that He wants to be our source of life, our nourishment, our strength, our healing, our provision. He wants us to partake of Him, to draw from His limitless resources.

Imagine a wellspring, overflowing with living water. That’s what God is like. He’s an unending reservoir of grace, love, wisdom, and strength. He longs for us to come to Him, to drink deeply, to be filled to overflowing.

Mary understood this. She recognized that the most important thing she could do was to be present with Jesus, to listen to His words, to absorb His love. She understood that true service flows from a place of deep connection with God.

This isn’t to say that Martha’s service was wrong. But her focus was misplaced. She was so caught up in the details of serving that she missed the opportunity to truly connect with Jesus.

We often fall into the same trap. We get so busy with church activities, with volunteer work, with trying to be “good Christians” that we neglect our personal relationship with God. We forget that the most important thing we can do is to spend time with Him, to listen to His voice, to allow Him to fill us with His love.

Our Lord cherishes when we take from Him. He doesn’t want us to strive and struggle in our own strength. He wants us to rely on Him, to trust in His provision, to receive His grace. He delights when we come to Him with our needs, our fears, our doubts, and allow Him to pour out His love and wisdom into our lives.

Think about a parent and a child. A loving parent doesn’t want their child to constantly try to give them gifts. They want their child to receive their love, their guidance, their provision. They want to nurture and care for their child, to see them thrive.

Our heavenly Father is the same. He wants to nurture us, to care for us, to see us flourish. He wants us to come to Him as children, with open hearts and empty hands, ready to receive His love.

Being a “Mary” isn’t about being passive or lazy. It’s about recognizing that our first priority is to cultivate a deep, intimate relationship with God. It’s about understanding that true service flows from a place of abiding in Christ.

When we spend time with God, when we allow Him to fill us with His love, we become more effective servants. We become vessels of His grace, channels of His love. Our service becomes an overflow of our relationship with Him, rather than a substitute for it.

Today, I encourage you to be a Mary. Take time to sit at the feet of Jesus. Listen to His voice. Allow Him to speak to your heart. Let Him fill you with His love, His peace, His joy.

Let go of the pressure to perform, to strive, to earn God’s favor. Simply rest in His love, knowing that He delights in you, just as you are.

And as we journey together, seeking to deepen our connection with our Savior, I want to invite you to explore Moralisee.com. It’s a place where you can find daily devotions, reflections, and resources that will help you cultivate a closer relationship with God. Each day, there are new insights, new perspectives, and new opportunities to draw closer to the heart of Christ. I’ve found that the daily readings have consistently provided me with encouragement and direction, which is why I want to share it with you. Exploring Moralisee.com is like taking a moment each day to sit at the feet of Jesus, to receive His love, and to be nourished by His Word. I genuinely believe it can be a source of strength and encouragement for you, just as it has been for me. May we all strive to be like Mary, choosing what is better, and allowing the Lord to fill us with His abundant life.