Post by Cindy on Feb 5, 2016 9:08:44 GMT -5
At the Home of Martha and Mary Luke 10:38–42
Martha and Mary both loved Jesus and wanted to serve him wholeheartedly. But when Jesus was a guest in their home, the two sisters focused on different aspects of his visit. As a meticulous hostess, Martha wanted to serve the best meal she could. Her mind was filled with all the details and preparations needed for a successful dinner party. Mary, on the other hand, made the most of the opportunity to simply sit at Jesus’s feet and soak up his words. She was oblivious to anything else—until Martha’s resentment about the situation boiled over.
“Lord,” Martha asked, “don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work all by myself? Tell her to help me” (Luke 10:40). Jesus lovingly corrected Martha for being so distracted by household chores to the point that she could not enjoy his presence. He told her there was only one thing she truly needed to be concerned about. “Mary has made the right choice,” Jesus added, “and that one thing will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42).
Every day we make the choice of where our focus will be. Will we allow ourselves to get so caught up in the busyness of life that we neglect to spend time with God? Or will we put aside other responsibilities in order to first give him our undivided attention, soaking up his words as we study the Bible, enjoying his presence as we worship him and pray?
Household chores, nurturing our family, career advancement, and service to others are all important, but we don’t want to let those things crowd out what matters most. Time spent with Jesus always reaps eternal rewards, and that’s a good reason to make him our first priority every day. No matter how long our to-do list is, God calls us to choose the most important thing, as Mary did—the thing that can never be taken away from us.
“but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”” (Luke 10:42)
Matthews, D. N. (2012). Designed for devotion: A 365-day journey from genesis to revelation.
At Jesus’ feet—that is our place of privilege & blessing, & here it is that we're to be educated & fitted for the practical duties of life. Here we're to renew our strength while we wait on Him, & learn how to mount on wings as eagles; here we're to become possessed of that true knowledge which is power. Here we're to learn how real work is to be done, & armed with the true motive power to do it. Here we're to find solace amid both the trials of work & the trials of life in general; & here we're to anticipate something of the blessedness of heaven amidst the days of earth; for to sit at His feet is indeed to be in heavenly places, & to gaze upon His glory is to do what we shall never tire of doing yonder. Thoughts for the quiet hour.
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”” (Luke 10:38–42)
Martha and Mary both loved Jesus and wanted to serve him wholeheartedly. But when Jesus was a guest in their home, the two sisters focused on different aspects of his visit. As a meticulous hostess, Martha wanted to serve the best meal she could. Her mind was filled with all the details and preparations needed for a successful dinner party. Mary, on the other hand, made the most of the opportunity to simply sit at Jesus’s feet and soak up his words. She was oblivious to anything else—until Martha’s resentment about the situation boiled over.
“Lord,” Martha asked, “don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work all by myself? Tell her to help me” (Luke 10:40). Jesus lovingly corrected Martha for being so distracted by household chores to the point that she could not enjoy his presence. He told her there was only one thing she truly needed to be concerned about. “Mary has made the right choice,” Jesus added, “and that one thing will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42).
Every day we make the choice of where our focus will be. Will we allow ourselves to get so caught up in the busyness of life that we neglect to spend time with God? Or will we put aside other responsibilities in order to first give him our undivided attention, soaking up his words as we study the Bible, enjoying his presence as we worship him and pray?
Household chores, nurturing our family, career advancement, and service to others are all important, but we don’t want to let those things crowd out what matters most. Time spent with Jesus always reaps eternal rewards, and that’s a good reason to make him our first priority every day. No matter how long our to-do list is, God calls us to choose the most important thing, as Mary did—the thing that can never be taken away from us.
“but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”” (Luke 10:42)
Matthews, D. N. (2012). Designed for devotion: A 365-day journey from genesis to revelation.
At Jesus’ feet—that is our place of privilege & blessing, & here it is that we're to be educated & fitted for the practical duties of life. Here we're to renew our strength while we wait on Him, & learn how to mount on wings as eagles; here we're to become possessed of that true knowledge which is power. Here we're to learn how real work is to be done, & armed with the true motive power to do it. Here we're to find solace amid both the trials of work & the trials of life in general; & here we're to anticipate something of the blessedness of heaven amidst the days of earth; for to sit at His feet is indeed to be in heavenly places, & to gaze upon His glory is to do what we shall never tire of doing yonder. Thoughts for the quiet hour.
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”” (Luke 10:38–42)
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