The One Thing Needed

SCRIPTURE
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."

OBSERVATION
Here we have two sisters. Both sisters recognize Jesus as Lord. However, they respond to Jesus' presence in their home differently. Mary sits at the feet of Jesus and listens to him teach. Martha becomes busy playing the role of a hostess. Presumably, she is preparing a meal for Jesus and the disciples, a task that needed to be accomplished. However, she becomes frustrated with her sister not helping in the chores. And who can blame her? However, Jesus responds that Mary has made the better choice. While Martha has become concerned with many things, Mary has focused on one thing (becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ). And Jesus says this is the one thing that is needed.

APPLICATION
Life is full of distractions and there are many things that we think we need to do. However, Jesus tells us that there is one thing that is truly needed, and that is him. What we need to do is sit at his feet as his disciple and learn from him; to spend our day with him. To try to become like him. The great thing is that we can do this while we walk throughout our day. We can be busy making preparations for life, and rather than seeing them as distractions, see them as moments to spend with our Rabbi, our Teacher, our Lord. I can spend time with Jesus as I wash dishes, drive my car, struggle with patience or go to the grocery store. The question is, will I choose the one thing needed as I walk throughout my day?

PRAYER
Father, help me to choose the one thing needed. Help me to "sit at the feet of Jesus" as I go from moment to moment, experience to experience, interaction to interaction. Help me to be a disciple in every moment of every day.