Dear Martha, Martha
I am writing to you for your restoration in the name of the Lord. I’ve noticed that you’ve been anxious and troubled about many things. So wearily, you juggle your affairs. You do things because you should, yet your heart is far from the Lord. You have chosen works over faith, but I ask that you not condemn yourself any further, for it is because of this very thing that I write to you. (Romans 8:1)
In hopes of righteousness, you have chosen duty. Many works you want to do for the Lord, but what can you give to the Lord? Nothing.
You need not to work for the Lord, but you must work because of the Lord.
The Lord would solely like you to know him. Just to spend time with him, and for you to know nothing else but him. The things you do after will come from the inevitable transformation that happens when you encounter him. You are unable to meet the Lord and walk away the same person.
His kindness will lead to you repentance.
His mercy will lead you to love.
His love will lead you to works.
Your condemnation will lead to duty.
Your shame will lead to obligation.
Your works will lead you away from him.
Blessings,
Noah
Hello friends and family! I’ve written this letter in direct allusion to these next listed verses.
“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.””
Luke 10:38-42 ESV
I love this verse because he says “Martha, Martha,”. It’s like he had to get her attention and stop her from what she was doing. It’s the same for us.
Section one of my letter is a reference to Martha’s serving heart towards the Lord, but her lack of wisdom regarding his presence, and teachings.
Section two of my letter is an elaboration on our own tendency to slip into a mindset in which we are too preoccupied with what we should do physically. It’s stressful and harmfully obligatory if our hearts don’t actually want to do these things. We often think that we are pleasing the Lord with our actions, but it is with our hearts that we please him.
“And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,”
Isaiah 29:13 ESV
Section four of my letter sources from this verse:
“For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”
Hosea 6:6 ESV
This immense power and heart posture of desiring the Lord, comes from knowing the Lord. He tells us that we should know him first and only because after that, everything else will follow naturally.
If we know him, everything else will follow naturally. If things aren’t following naturally, then there’s something we don’t know about him, or we have forgotten.
