Every Woman's Bible Journaling Edition, Filament Enabled - Book - Page 38
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I M AG E
MY STORY WITH
FAMILY & FRI ENDS
Leading and Loved for It
SCRIPTURE CONNECTION: JOHN 11:20-28
My friend, who’s a firstborn, says, “Martha gets a bad rap. She’s the one who takes action!”
Although Martha does get lovingly redirected to what fulfills, Jesus never chides her for
leading with strength. Martha shows us four things that can help us live our purpose with
our families and friends:
1. Martha was a doer! And that isn’t bad. She was the
Martha does get
first one to run to Jesus instead of waiting for him to
come to her: “When Martha got word that Jesus was
lovingly redirected
coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the
to what fulfills. But
house” (11:20).
2. She was a believer! She trusted that Jesus had the power
she never gets
to change her situation: “Lord, if only you had been here,
chided for leading
my brother would not have died. But even now I know
that God will give you whatever you ask” (11:21).
with strength.
3. Martha was a perceiver! She was one of the few who
understood Jesus’ real identity. “‘Yes, Lord,’ she told
him. ‘I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has
come into the world from God’” (11:27).
4. And Martha was a bringer! After this powerful encounter with Jesus, she didn’t keep
his goodness to herself. No, she went to her sister Mary and pointed her to Jesus: “‘The
Teacher is here and wants to see you’” (11:28).
Have you ever noticed that firstborn daughters tend to lead from childhood and
never stop? I can see why my firstborn friend stands up for Martha—and I admire her
understanding of who Jesus was too (11:27).
IMAGINE
What makes Martha effective in blessing others?
How has God fashioned
you for leadership and
influence?
“Like Martha, I’ve sometimes been told I’m ‘too
much.’ When I recognize
God affirmed Martha’s
‘much,’ I celebrate!”
NAOMI CRAMER OVERTON,
MBA, DIS, lives to realize
beauty-filled visions that
lift us to flourishing, with
our families and beyond.
Naomi has been CEO for
Stonecroft and MOPS,
director with Compassion
International and World
Vision, and General Editor
for this Bible.
