Spring 1989
Food for Thought
Wade E Taylor

"For it is under His direction that the whole body is perfectly adjusted and united by every joint that furnishes its supplies; and by the proper functioning of each particular part, there is brought about the growing of the body for its building up in love" Eph 4:16 Williams Trans.

As we grow spiritually, the Lord may use us in some special ministry or way. When this happens, we tend to place an emphasis upon this particular experience and neglect other areas of our spiritual growth. This will cause us loss, as it is necessary that "each particular part" within our spiritual experience furnishes its supply so we will be balanced in our spiritual growth.

On the surface, these different areas of experience may appear to be contrary to each other. We are called to serve. As we do, we trust that the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit will work within us so our ministry will be effective. We are also called to a life of devotion and prayer. In this, we come apart to be alone with the Lord and to wait upon Him. Along with these, our Adamic nature is to go through a process of crucifixion and die, that resurrection life may come. These are very different areas of experience.

The "proper functioning of each particular part" in these varied areas of spiritual experience and growth was demonstrated to us by Jesus through the activities of a family that He often visited in Bethany. He loved to go to the household of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. There was a reason as to why this was so.

"Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word" Luke 10:38-39. "Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha" John 11:1.

Martha was always busy. She was taken up with "things." She saw the needs of others and faithfully served them. While Martha was doing all these things, Mary was just sitting. She only saw Jesus and was singularly interested in what He was saying. At the same time Lazarus, who was very sick, was dying. Here is represented a divine balance in our Christian experience, portrayed by two sisters and a brother. Notice that these are related to each other. They are not to be separated.

Our ability to serve is given to us by the Lord. Thus, ministry is portrayed as being feminine, (Martha). Also, our devotion to the Lord is expressed through our being a bride to Christ and is also portrayed as feminine, (Mary). Our Adamic nature is portrayed as masculine, (Lazarus). "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" Matt 16:24. This nature within us is to be crucified. Therefore, Lazarus was dying.

Each member of this family functioned together and supplied their particular part. While Mary waited, Martha served. When Martha criticized Mary, Jesus did not tell her to sit down and wait like Mary. Rather, He said, "Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her" (See Luke 10:40- 42). Martha was to continue serving because it is necessary.

Later, Jesus stayed away until Lazarus died. This was His purpose, that resurrection life might come. Thus His relationship to, and dealings with, each of these was quite different.

Consider the fact that this "household" which Jesus loved to visit is resident within each one of us. The occupants, two sisters and a brother, are to have their particular part and function within our lives.

Allow each of these, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, to live out their particular part within us to the fullest and bring us to the highest of our potential. Then, we will become the balanced, mature adult that will attract Jesus as He seeks out a household to visit.

Then, when He comes into our house, "Martha" will feed Him, "Mary" will sit at His feet as He feeds her, and "Lazarus" will be resurrected into the Christ nature.