I am constantly juggling starting the day with God versus my long to-do lists. Some days, I remember to say ‘Good Morning, Jesus!’ and thank Him for a brand new day. But once I touch my phone, it is a slippery slop of distractions – list of things to remember and things to do.
Martha: Distracted by Duty
There is nothing wrong with what Martha was doing – after all, she was serving Jesus. But her busyness became a distraction. In today’s world, our busyness has become a measure of our productivity. We are pressured to perform, achieve and accomplish. In the process, we become too busy to carve out time to be in His presence.
But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” – Luke 10:40
Mary: Anchored in Presence
Mary chose to sit down and listen to Jesus, much to Martha’s annoyance. Mary recognise that Jesus was in the room, and chose to be in His presence and listen to His Words. She chose His presence over worldly pressure.
How often do we stop and sit still – to be in God’s presence and truly listen to His words?
And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to His teaching – Luke 10:39
The One Thing That’s Needed
Jesus didn’t scold Martha – He gently invited her back to what matters most. He showed her that in the midst of all our obligations and responsibilities, one thing is truly necessary – Him. God is asking us to prioritise His presence in our busy lives.
“Martha, Martha… you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” — Luke 10:41–42 (ESV)
My Invitation
This is my invitation to you today: to choose the portion that is most important, which is to anchor in God’s presence, and don’t let anyone or anything take it away from you.