Divine Service Held Here Daily

The work of motherhood is often hidden from the world's eyes—unseen, unheralded, unacknowledged. But in these quiet daily acts of love and service, mothers participate in God's eternal purposes.

Scripture Focus: John 12:2-3; Psalm 127:3

"So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving... Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair."

In John 12, we find two sisters serving Jesus in different ways. Martha is serving—hosting, preparing the feast. Mary is anointing Jesus's feet. Neither is less valuable than the other. Both are acts of worship. Both matter eternally.

Maybe you don't have anything monetarily precious to bring to the feet of Jesus. Then be a Martha. Serve the Lord with all your heart. It doesn't matter if it's precious nard or hosting and preparing or mothering. It's relative to what the Lord has given you.

Elizabeth Elliot said it well: "The work of motherhood is often hidden from the world's eyes, unseen, unheralded, unacknowledged. But yet, in these quiet daily acts of love and service, mothers participate in God's eternal purposes. The dishes, the diapers, the daily repetitions—they seem small, but they are shaping souls for heaven. There is no work more eternally significant than this, though the world may never applaud it."

Amy Carmichael adds: "A mother's work often feels like writing in the sand, soon washed away and forgotten. But in truth, she is carving her influence upon immortal minds. The imprint may not be visible for years, perhaps not in her lifetime, but it is there nonetheless, as permanent as eternity."

There's a sign that reportedly hung over Ruth Bell Graham's kitchen sink: "Divine service held here three times daily."

When you're at home taking care of your babies, that's eternally significant. The Bible says in Psalm 127:3 that "children are a reward from God. They're to be stewarded."

It's so easy to want to be honored by others but fail to desire what honors the Lord. And what God honors is not recognition—He honors humility. Not significance—it's service. Not status—it's sacrifice.

Two thousand years later, here we are gathered talking about Mary of Bethany. We know very little about her. But whether you're a woman with kids or a woman without kids or a man, the question persists: Don't you want to live a life that lasts?

If you bring everything you have to the feet of Jesus, your life will not be wasted. But if you bring your all to Jesus, if you live a life of service, adoration, devotion, and humility, your life will bring honor to God.

And God will honor you. That's a crazy thought. God will say, "Well done."

That's all you ought to want to hear.

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