Luke 10:38-42
As they went on their way, Jesus came into a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who was sitting at the Lord’s feet and was listening to his word. But Martha was distracted with all her serving. She came over and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me.” The Lord answered and told her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is needed. In fact, Mary has chosen that better part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Applying God’s Word for today: Avoid the distraction and focus on what is important.
At this time of year, we can get wrapped up in all sorts of summer activities, including parties, picnics, weddings, camping, yard work, and more. While these things may need to be done, they can also distract us from what is truly important: focusing on our salvation. You might wonder why. After all, that is so far away, and I have my entire life to live. God promises us many things, but he does not promise us more time. We have this moment.
We can be like Martha, busy with all sorts of planning and hosting, which are fine, but we must also be like Mary, who sits at our Lord’s feet, choosing the better part. After all, it is not in the works we perform but in the receiving of God’s free gifts by faith in Jesus. God tells us in His word (in Hebrews 10:25), “Do not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing.” It is easy to say we don’t need church and claim that because we are together with like-minded Christians, that is good enough.
God blesses us with those temporal places on this earth where he wants to come to us—to you and have you hear the absolution he has for you. God wants you to know that His Son suffered on the cross in your place; He wants you to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, so you know you are sanctified and set apart as holy. It is in the Holy Spirit’s gifts that our faith is strengthened, and we are kept in the one true faith. So, with a busy summer, don’t neglect your faith; choose the greater part, like Mary.
Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, forgive us when our busy lives take us away from you, and we allow our sins to go unchecked. Send your Holy Spirit to be with us and continuously encourage us to be more like Mary, that we may sit at our Savior’s feet and listen to your word. Through our faith, let us love others as Jesus has loved us, sharing with them your forgiveness for Jesus’ sake. May those who do not know you let us share your love and forgiveness with them; we pray they, too, will come to know you through your Holy Spirit working in them. Amen
Choose the greater part like Mary; hear and trust God’s word—his love and forgiveness for you. God’s word tells us how Jesus died on the cross to take away all our sins, even though we are utterly undeserving of his love because of our sins.