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 Jesus says in this verse that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. The key to that
is ͞let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls͟

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In this story, Jesus was at the house of Mary and Martha. Martha was busy preparing a meal while
her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord͛s feet, listening to what he taught. In NLT, it says, ͞Martha was
distracted by the big dinner she was preparing͟. She came to Jesus to complain and urged Jesus to
send Mary to help her out in the kitchen. But Jesus said to her ͞My dear Martha, you are worried
and upset over all these details. There͛s only one thing that is worth being concerned about. Mary
has discovered it and it will not be taken away from her͟. Here from this passage, we can see three
of Jesus͛ desires for his followers;

a.Ê Jesus desires to spend intimate times with us even at home

Mary opened her home to Jesus. Make Jesus comfortable at your home. We know from
experience how some hosts can make us feel right at homes while others make us feel like
we are intruders.

b.Ê Jesus wants our undivided attention

We need to give our undivided attention to listen to him. God wants to speak to us. Listening
to the Holy Spirit is likened to listening to the radio. The sound waves are there at all times
but we need to turn on the radio to be able to hear the different broadcasts. Some of us are
like radios without batteries, that͛s why we are unable to tune in to the voice of the Holy
Spirit.

Without spending time with God, things that we do can be produced out of performance,
thus creating anxiety, worries and stress. Like Martha, we become distracted about many
things, get upset over many details, tense and snap at people. Martha͛s dinner menu was
never recorded in the Bible as it was produced in anxiety and performance rather than
surrender.

c.Ê Jesus wants to lead us to victory and fruitfulness. God wants us to have holy productivity.
Performance is success oriented. Surrender is Christ centred. Performance is distant;
surrender is in the context of connectedness. Those who are surrendered have chosen the
top strategy which is partnership with the Holy Spirit.

Discussion:
a.Ê How would you describe a performance oriented person?
b.Ê Do you tend towards performance or surrender?
c.Ê Ps Sergio says ͞Surrender is not to be equated with laziness͟? Do you agree with his
statement? Why or why not?
d.Ê What are the keys to conquer a performance oriented lifestyle and disposition in life?
e.Ê What steps can you take to be a better Mary this week?