Today’s scripture: Luke 10:38-42 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message)
As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two before reading on.
My thoughts (Jenni Clarkson):
Do you recall the movie City Slickers, with the unlikely pairing of Billy Crystal and Jack Palance? Jack played the gruff old cowboy Curly. He shared the “meaning of life” with Billy Crystal’s character, and that was “just one thing.”
He held out his gloved hand with his index finger extended, “Just one thing.” “What is it?” Crystal’s character wanted to know. “That’s for you to figure out,” was the response. It’s been a long time since I saw that movie in the theatre, but it came to mind again when I read this scripture.
Martha welcomed Jesus and then was distracted by her many tasks. This summarizes Martha’s story and the story of many of us. We may have welcomed Jesus into our lives with the best of intentions, planning and meaning with all of our hearts to make time for him every day, but life happens. We have work, school, family, adorable pets that require our attention. We have floors to scrub and grass to mow. Yet the Savior waits.
I think Martha really believed she had the right idea. She wanted to serve Jesus, which certainly seems noble and honorable. Then she got rather peeved with her sister for not helping out. But Jesus said “there is need of only one thing.” Mary, it seems, had discovered the “one thing.” She “sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying.” Sometimes I need to be reminded to do that. I may run off with many tasks, thinking that I just want to serve Jesus, when the better thing to do would be to listen to him.
Thought for the day: Think about your “one thing.” Set aside your “many tasks” for a few minutes to simply listen to Jesus.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.