A Better Way

“She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening…But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made…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 from her’” Luke 10:39-41.

This is the story of two sisters who adored Jesus and prepared for His visit.  One was not more righteous than the other, nor did one love Him more than the other.  The difference between these sisters was one thing…choice.  While one chose to focus on the distractions of the world, the other chose to focus on the One who created the world.  Neither sister was loved more than the other by Jesus, but one received fellowship and the other did not.

Every one of us has this same choice as we walk out our lives.  If we are Christians we have invited Christ into our hearts and homes.  But does He sit in the next room while we are busy preparing… striving…toiling…even serving?  Do we invite Him to join us in our day or do we only visit Him first thing or late at night?  When considering Martha, we can deduce that her preparations were noble, and would directly benefit Jesus.  But, as Scripture states Jesus didn’t want the benefits of her busyness…He wanted the blessings of her fellowship.  While her house might have been clean her heart was absent.  It doesn’t matter how noble or godly our service is we must make time to sit at the feet of Jesus.  The world and everything in it will always compete for our time.  We must be intentional with where we place our focus and our time.  One will pass away while the other remains.  Serving Him without the fellowship is like preparing a party without guests.

‘The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever’ 1 John 2:17.