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Godly Women of Devotion
Mary of Bethany: Unwavering Focus

Luke 10:38-42 (Monday)
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." (NIV)
1) Jesus had many followers, and He loved them all the way to the cross! But, as we study the scriptures we find that there were times when Jesus would steal away from the crowds and surround Himself with his closest disciples and dearest friends. Martha, Mary and Lazarus were especially blessed that He often chose their dwelling as a place of sanctuary—a place of peace and rest. Jesus had a special love and concern for this family (John 11:1-3; 32-36) and it is obvious that this family went to great lengths to show their love for the Savior by offering up the gracious gift of hospitality.
2) Well, we know there were no phones during these times, so how much notice do you suppose these ladies had to prepare for Jesus’ arrival?
3) Have you ever had someone drop in on you unexpectedly? How did you respond? A friend of mine told me she always had the “fixings” for cookies, brownies, or “whatnot” with special teas or coffees for just such an occasion! That’s a lady with the gift of hospitality! I wonder if Martha had some sort of contingency plan herself!
4) We see two very different hearts, personalities and spiritual gifts in operation during this brief glimpse of a time spent with Jesus. Share your insights.
5) I think most of us would acknowledge that Mary’s sitting at Jesus’ feet was absolutely a form of worship. How about Martha’s service?
6) If Martha’s service was an act of worship—where did the worship stop and the worrying begin?
7) What might have been some of her thoughts that led up to the worrying?
8) We all want to give our best to the Lord, but when does it become self-serving, or worse, self-glory and not an act that glorifies God?
9) Could pride have been at work here? bitterness? resentment? selfishiness?
10) I have to wonder what would have happened if both Mary and Martha had sat at Jesus’ feet for a while. Shortly before arriving at their home, Jesus had fed 5,000 with just fives loaves of bread and two fish! Worry, indeed!
11) Have you ever tried to serve God before first seeking Him through worship, thanksgiving and praise? without a heartfelt desire for a meaningful and fulfilling relationship with our Creator and Lord? What was the result?
12) When tempted by satan in the wilderness, Jesus told satan that “man does not live by bread alone…” (Matthew 4:1-4 and again, in John 4:30-34, Jesus speaks of another kind of food. How might things have gone differently for Martha if she had let Jesus feed her soul first? Reminds me of the story of the woman at the well needing Jesus to give her Living Water (John 4:4!)
13) Jesus did not fault Martha’s service—He spoke of her worry, her unnecessary anxiousness. Do we sometimes go far beyond what God truly desires of us? Do you think this may have been the cause of Mary’s anxiety? What is truly behind our own self-efforts? Have you ever fallen into this trap?
14) Martha’s servant’s heart was a spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1), but like many of us, we put the act of service first and squeeze in the relationship—the very relationship that enables us to perform and fulfill our service—making it meaningful to God, us and others! Martha’s worship became about the “things” she felt had to be done and not about the one “THING” that was most important in her life, her Savior, Jesus Christ! That’s what Jesus meant in saying Mary had chosen best!
15) I have to ask: would Jesus (not could Jesus) have miraculously provided the necessities for this special meal? Explain your response.
16) Okay, now it’s your turn. Create your own scenario: Jesus suddenly appears at the doorstep of Martha, Mary’s and Lazarus’ home. Everyone is listening to dear Jesus tell about one life after another being radically and forever changed—one miracle after another bringing glory to God the Father. Everyone joyously laughing together, perhaps crying and praying together! Each forgetting all about their physical hunger because their souls are so full of the Bread of Life and God’s Living Water! But, because they were flesh, the hunger suddenly hits and it hits hard! The conversation is broken with tired signs and…
John 12:1-3 (Tuesday)” Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” (NIV)
1) Many confused this women with that of the sinful woman in Luke 7:36-50. That woman washed Jesus feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair in mournful sorrow over her sin. Her precious act of worship revealed to Jesus the depth of her repentance! The woman here in John 12 is none other than Mary, sister to Martha and Lazarus, who so often sat at Jesus’ feet to learn and worship. Her worshipful fellowship revealed to her (when Jesus’ own disciples still did not understand) that Jesus was indeed going to die, not only for her, but for the sins of the world. Her act of worship was to anoint His body for His certain burial! As it turned out, Jesus died just before the Sabbath. His followers barely had time to take His body down from the cross and hurriedly borrow a rich man’s tomb to bury Him. There was no time to properly prepare the body, as was the Jewish custom. Mary anointed Jesus ahead of time! What faith and what worship—all spiritually revealed to her through relationship! Glory!
2) What are the three acts of worship being acted out by each family member?
3) What is Martha doing? What is Martha not doing? What has changed? Why?
4) Which act of worship do you feel is of more value and worth? Which do you think Jesus would judge the best—or would He? Which act of worship does your heart respond most to?
5) Oh, I think there was more than the mere fragrance of perfume filling this house. What does 2 Corinthians 2:15 say we are to God and to the world? (Oh, see this in the KJV!)
John 12:4-8 (Wednesday)
“But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages. "He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "[It was intended] that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me” (NIV)
1) Worship is so individual! Have you ever had anyone misinterpret your motives—your sincerity? What does this do to your heart—your spirit? Does it cause you to draw back—be more reserved, to hesitate, to feel less free before your God?
2) Well, other’s motives are usually suspect when we are attacked in such a way and Judas’ motives certainly were self-serving. Can you think of other reasons others might seek to keep us from being less open with our worship?
3) “It was intended…” How does it feel to know that God has predestined—chosen you for good works that honor and bring glory to Him (Ephesians 2:10?)
Philippians 3:8-11 (Thursday)
“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (NIV)
1) The world cannot fathom this concept—gain through loss! Paul had every reason to boast in himself and his accomplishments, but he counted them all as mere rubbish! What are some accomplishments are self-achievements that you need to discard in order to lean entirely and absolutely on the work accomplished by Christ for you on the cross?
2) 2) Does God ever waste what we have learned or acquired through our self-effort? Explain your response.
3) We all know that Paul was a born-again believer—had been highly favored by God in being allowed to see Jesus Christ after His resurrection and ascension into heaven. So, what does Paul mean by, “…I want to know Christ….?” See: John 17:5-26; Romans 11:33-36; 2 Corinthians 3:18
a) Are you still in the process of “knowing Christ?” Did your knowledge stop at “Savior” and never move toward “Lord?”
b) Have you learned there are many names for our God? What names do you know Him by? Share.
4) I have to share these insights from Charles Stanley, in his In Touch Daily Devotional dated June 11, 2006:
5) “To earnestly seek the Lord, to in your innermost being long to know more about Jesus Christ, you must set your mind to do so. It is not an experiential moment in which you are waiting for a feeling or an emotion to affirm that the Lord has spoken to you.
6) Rather, it is an intentional, deliberate daily effort at humbly and sincerely trying to find out more about God. If you’re going to seek the Lord, you simply must purpose to do it and trust Him to answer your heart’s cry.
7) The primary ways to learn more about God are to read His Word and communicate to Him in prayer. Perhaps you sometimes feel inundated with admonitions to read the Bible and pray, read the Bible and pray. There is a reason. These vital pursuits must be accomplished in earnest before your understanding of Christ is deepened.
8) The Holy Bible is a product of the mind and heart of God. It is the principal tool He uses to reveal Himself to us. He communicates to us through His Word and His Holy Spirit, and we communicate to Him through prayer.
9) Yet you also should consciously determine that in your conversations, Scripture study, church attendance, reading, and service you will be tenacious in longing to discover His will and His ways. These are all methods in which we learn more about God. These are also the ways in which we are richly rewarded.”
10) Again, what did Paul mean by, “…becoming like Him in His death…?” (Romans 6:3-11; Romans 12:1-3; 1 Corinthians 2:16)
11) Now, most of us today do not even want to hear about this part of following Christ, much less experience Christ’s sufferings—but, Paul did! Oh, know that Paul wasn’t saying that suffering would help him get into heaven, but rather, that as surely as he would follow Christ in His suffering, He would he would follow Him in glorious resurrection (Romans 5; Romans 8:17-18; 2 Corinthians 4:4-18; Hebrews 12:3-12!)
Philippians 4:4-9 (Friday)
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (NIV)
1) Oh, I think Martha finally got it! In John 12:1-3, we find Martha serving, but not anxious—her heart and her mind were well guarded by Christ because:
a) She had grown in her knowledge of Christ
b) She had died to her own self-effort and lost herself in Christ
c) She had gained a spirit of gentleness
d) She had, at last arrived to that hidden and secret place of God’s peace and rest
e) She was rejoicing in God her Savior!
2) You, the beloved of Christ and the apple of God’s eye—rejoice! And, may the God of peace be with you all! Amen and Amen!