Cross Into Your Life

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Martha invites Jesus into her home that she shares with her sister, Mary and her brother, Lazarus.  Jesus accepts the invitation. 

We know that Martha busies herself with the requirements of hospitality but Mary does not.  She just sits at the feet of Jesus and listens to everything he says.  When Martha protests to Jesus that Mary isn't helping, we get the famous response - only one thing is necessary and Mary has chosen it. 

Given the opportunity to prepare food and drink for Jesus or to just be as close to Jesus as possible, which will you choose? 

In some ways, it may be easier to be busy, to think we are serving Jesus and His needs.  But is that what Jesus wants?  It seems what He wants more than everything else is a personal relationship with you. 

Imagine the service that you would render to someone whom you share the closest personal relationship with, imagine how much more you would know that person's needs and wants. 

Mary wants to get to know Jesus as closely as possible.  She sits as close to Him at possible.   Mary wants to know everything about Jesus and hear every word that He says. 

How about you?  How close do you want to get to Jesus? 

No matter where you are in your life right now, today, this moment, decide right now to get closer to Jesus.  Deepen that relationship.  Invite Jesus into your home, your life, your heart.  And then if He requires something from you, He'll let you know.  But start by getting closer.   

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About the Painting:

I wanted Mary's painting to look a lot like Martha's but a little bit different.  I used all the same colors to show how close the sisters were.  But instead of the circular patterns that I used for Martha, I wanted Mary's cross to reflect a more royal image.  So I capped the four ends with crowns. 

I hope each of us can recognize the kingly and the divine in the person of Jesus like Mary did and honor His cross accordingly.

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• Copyright information on Bible quotes used on this page:
• New American Standard Bible (NASB)   Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation