A Day-by-day devotional

May 12, 2023

In your hands

Chronological One Year Bible Reading Plan: Psalm 1-3, 16-21

Scripture of the Day: Luke 10:38-42

The world we are living in tends to always be busy. We don’t even have the time to pause, in order to realize that we always have something in our hands. We hardly even recognize work as separate from non-work. This is because the task on hand would most of the time be carried by us, in our hands, wherever we go.

I recently heard somebody say that it often feels incomplete when he’s not holding anything in his hands. There’s this drive to always do, to always work.

Sometimes, however, we could only do as much. We could set our goals and work hard to realize them. However, there comes a point when, success does not lie on anything we do.

In our Christian walk, we often hear busybodies being compared to Martha of the bible. Martha, as a very dedicated host, demonstrated her devotion and faithfulness by exerting herself with all the work that needs to get done.

We work hard to please our bosses. We soak ourselves with work, to get that personal satisfaction from the fact that we are doing something. Martha also sought that kind of satisfaction, and perhaps, a pat on the shoulder from Jesus.

We strive to please God in all that we do. In our spiritual life, we put our best efforts and work hard. This is good. Surely, the Lord sees all of them. The question, however is, is it what He wants us to do?

Often, we fill ourselves with humongous amounts of work, thinking it is what would please God. However, as much as our goals and reasons are good, like Martha‘s, it may not be the work that God asks of us, specifically at certain moments.

We should recognize, specifically in Martha‘s story that timing is also significant. Her sister Mary chose at that time to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to Him. Although this act does not demonstrate a busybody‘s work attitude, Mary, in a non-standardized definition, also worked. The work she did, however, was not done by her hands. She didn’t at that time, have to hold something in her hands. She worked with her heart.

Mary did not rest, as some would see in the narrative. She worked using her heart, exerting her best efforts to listen and learn from her Master. In doing this kind of work, she found her rest in Jesus.

We do not always have to hold things in our hands. It may feel awkward and lazy, but sometimes, the kind of work that God asks of us wouldn’t need us using our hands, but our hearts.

Reflection: What is your attitude towards working for the Lord? Do you believe that you only produce results when you’re actively using your hands? What about your heart?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am grateful for the work you place in my hands, to be a part of your kingdom on earth. Enable me, however, to recognize other works you would have me do, not with my hands but my heart. Amen.