Give me a Mary’s heart in a Martha’s world.

I love many different stories in the bible. One of my favorites is Mary and Martha.

The whole story is in Luke chapter ten. The story comes down to Martha being anxious about being a hostess and Mary soaking in the word of Jesus.

I have to admit I have been nervous about people being in my house. Did I clean it up to their standards? Are they comfortable? When are my guests going to leave? Do I need to prepare another meal? All legitimate questions.

But my real friends see my house with dog hair and toys scattered about, dishes in the sink, dirty floors, and a mountain of laundry. I don’t care because I have seen their house as well. They love me anyway. I use to have my life for Christ like my house.

Acquaintances would see the prim and proper false me. I would keep silent and try oh so hard to represent God with being perfect.

I was uncomfortable. I am sure they were uncomfortable too it wasn’t natural.

My friends, who know me, love me anyway. I am far from perfect most days my spiritual life looks like my house a mess. I do on occasion have it perfect for maybe five minutes, then the kitchen gets used, dogs muddy paw prints stretch across the floor, something is spilled and laughter with background noise fills the house. It is comfortable, relaxed, and real.

Why as Christians are we so fast to hide the rawness of life?

Life is sometimes hard, messy, yet we try so hard to make it seem that it is perfect. If we are less than perfect does God love us any less?

Absolutely not. We just come across as Martha in the bible instead of Mary.

I want to soak in Jesus. I want others to know me, and this mess of a person, and still see God through the mess. I have been humbled to watch God work through the messy hard unpredictable part of someone’s life. I can relate. The false perfection of appearances is hard to relate to.

Have you ever been in a person’s house that was so clean pristine, that you were highly uncomfortable? Have you ever been to house full of messy chaos but so full of love, you were sad to leave?

I want to be a Christian that yes I am a messy chaotic mess, but I am real and full of love. I don’t want to try to make my life look perfect for the name of God. Truth be told, we all need grace.

Doesn’t being authentic draw people into Christ instead of away from pretense?

My prayer for today:

Please Lord give me a heart of authenticity even in the mess of life. Let me rest at your feet. Let me prioritize and put you first instead of the business of life. In Jesus name amen.