“Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42

What is your walk with the Lord Jesus like? Are you more like Martha or more like Mary?

Both Mary and Martha loved the Lord Jesus. Martha received Jesus into her home and served Him. Mary was there, too, to see and hear her Savior. But, as the Scriptures reveal, there was a difference between the two. And these things were recorded for us that we might learn the will of our God and Savior for each of us.

As we read, Martha received Jesus into her house and was busy with much serving. She wanted to make sure everything was just right and that Jesus was treated with the utmost honor. She was much concerned with pleasing the Lord Jesus by her work and service.

Her sister Mary, on the other hand, sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. Instead of seeking to serve Jesus and prove her love and devotion by hard work and service, she let Jesus serve her and teach her the saving truths of God’s Word.

Mary’s behavior was troubling to Martha - so much so that she even scolded Jesus for not asking Mary get up and help with the work of serving.

Who are you like? Are you like Martha? Do you become so busy with serving Jesus and doing good that you don’t have time to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear His teaching? Are you sometimes even upset that no one is helping you with all the work you’ve taken on to do? Or, are you like Mary, who sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His Word?

Notice Jesus’ response to Martha: “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Mary took the time to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear His Word and teaching. She learned of the salvation God was providing for her through Christ Jesus. That was the one thing needful for Mary and for Martha and is still needful for you and for me - to sit humbly at Jesus’ feet and hear His life-giving Word, which offers and gives blessings which can never be taken away from us (cf. 2 Timothy 3:14-17).

O crucified and risen Lord Jesus, grant that we not neglect that one thing needful but take the time to sit at Your feet and hear and learn Your life-giving Word. For in Your Word, we learn of You and the salvation You won for us by Your innocent sufferings and death for us upon the cross. Amen.

[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture from the King James Version of the Bible.]

For The Record, Pages 4 on 07/21/2010