Saturday, August 17, 2013
Luke 10:38-42 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."
HEAR THE WORD OF JESUS AND TREASURE IT!
We can relate to Martha, can't we? The Bible says she was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. Distracted is a good way to describe what happens sometimes when we have opportunities to sit at Jesus' feet and hear His word, but our minds and hearts -- maybe even our bodies -- are in another place, concerned with something else that is less significant and has far less impact on our lives.
Although the text does not say what happened after the Lord called to her, no doubt Martha came in from the other room and sat at Jesus' feet too. For that is what we do to when our Savior calls to us and gently reminds us that His word is the one thing needful.
You know how His word draws us to Him, for you have heard it and know what it does for you. You know how it lifts your spirits, raises you from the depths, and seats you in the heavenly places. Truly, we want to hear it! To hear over and over again things like, "Your sins are forgiven," "I will see you through your troubles," "I will give you peace." Surely we say with the hymn writer:
God's Word a treasure is to me,
Thro' sorrow's night my sun shall be,
The shield of faith in battle.
The Father's hand hath written there
My title as His child and heir,
"The kingdom's thine forever."
That promise faileth never.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 48:2)
The Lord blesses us with lots of things to do in this life. But no matter what you do or where life takes you, remember this: in the end, only one thing is really needed: to hear the word of Jesus and treasure it. Keep the things around you in perspective by sitting at the Lord's feet when He calls to you. And rest well in the understanding that even if everything were taken away, you would still have all you really needed, for you would still have Jesus' precious word!
