A Prayer to Select Jesus
By Maggie Meadows Cooper
“She had a sister named Mary, who additionally sat on the Lord’s toes and was listening to what he mentioned. However Martha was distracted by her many duties…” – Luke 10:39-40 CSB
In latest weeks and months, I’ve discovered myself feeling disconnected from the Lord. Nonetheless praying, nonetheless going to Bible Examine and church, nonetheless doing all of the issues…however simply feeling somewhat like an outsider wanting into my religion life at instances. I’m saying the suitable phrases, making selections to honor Him most days, however I simply really feel “off.” Are you aware what I imply? So, I went to the Lord with my considerations, and I felt Him say, “Maggie, your coronary heart for Me hasn’t modified, however you’ve been distracted.”
And He’s proper. My husband and three children, work, finish of college stuff, sports activities, journey, church obligations…there are a whole lot of issues to divide my consideration and my time from the One who issues most. And after I felt Him share that, I instantly considered Martha. A few of you might know why. However others might not, so in the event you don’t know the story of Martha and Mary, right here it’s:
“Whereas they had been touring, he entered a village and a girl named Martha welcomed him into her dwelling. She had a sister named Mary, who additionally sat on the Lord’s toes and was listening to what he mentioned. However Martha was distracted by her many duties, and he or she got here up and requested, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So inform her to provide me a hand.” The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you might be apprehensive and upset about many issues, however one factor is important. Mary has made the suitable selection, and it’ll not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 CSB
This story is well-known to many and has been written about and shared too many instances to depend. However as many instances as I’ve heard it, it nonetheless touches my coronary heart and proves to be a lesson I haven’t mastered but and probably by no means will. However out of this quick message, the Lord put a number of new issues on my coronary heart, and I hope they are going to encourage you as effectively.
First, opening our dwelling to Jesus shouldn’t be sufficient. The scripture says, “…Martha welcomed him into her dwelling…however she was distracted by her many duties” Luke 10:38,40. Opening the door shouldn’t be sufficient. How many people invite Jesus in, present Him round, and inform Him how grateful we’re for Him, then “sit” Him down in a nook to attend till we’ve got completed our to-do record to sit down and speak with Him? I actually have, and it hurts my coronary heart. I really consider that distraction is among the greatest techniques Devil makes use of to maintain us from time with Jesus. It’s such a easy technique, that makes our time away from the Lord appear harmless as we’re engaged on different worthy duties, but finally, we’re placing them above our time with Him. The pressing appears to override what’s most necessary time and again. Sure once we invite different friends into our dwelling, we sit and speak and eat and pay attention. And we must always do the identical for Jesus.
Second, spending time with Jesus, listening and studying, is important to perform all the different issues in life. In verse 40, Martha requested, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone?…” I have to say I discover myself asking Him the identical query typically, and I feel we may all fill within the clean with our personal worries and duties. “Lord, don’t you care that ______________???” However I consider His reply could be the identical to us because it was to her. He replied, “Martha, Martha, you might be apprehensive and upset about many issues, however one factor is important.” He referred to as her by identify, twice. Perhaps as a result of she wasn’t listening the primary time, and he wanted her to cease and take a look at Him. However I feel he did it for emphasis, to point out His take care of her. To point out her that he knew her coronary heart and would name her out by identify due to how very a lot he liked her. Jesus acknowledged her each fear, and He didn’t low cost them. However He lovingly reminded her of the one factor that’s essential on this life: sitting at His toes, setting the to-do record apart, listening, and studying from Him. Obligatory means “wanted, important, the essential necessities of life.” When Jesus mentioned, “I’m the vine; you’re the branches. In case you stay in me and I in you, you’ll bear a lot fruit; other than me you are able to do nothing” in John 15:5, I feel that is what he meant. Our time with Him is essential.
And lastly, all of us have a option to make, every day. After Jesus informed Martha what was essential in verse 42, he mentioned, “Mary has made the suitable selection, and it’ll not be taken away from her.” Different translations say that Mary selected what was “higher” or “the nice portion.” Y’all, this means that Martha’s option to run round, fixing a flowery dinner, setting the desk, seeing to friends, and so forth. was not what she wanted to do in that second. Inside that room there was a transparent choice to be made. I perceive Martha’s feeling of obligation to be hostess, her longing to perhaps impress the friends that had been there, and perhaps somewhat of the pleasure that goes together with these issues. I don’t assume this implies there’s not a time for that. However proper there, in that second, he knew that what he needed to provide was life-sustaining and essential to perform all the different little duties. And Mary selected first to spend her time with Him.
Candy mates, my disconnect has come from the distractions of life. The alternatives I’ve made to place different issues forward of my time with Jesus. And perhaps you have got accomplished the identical at instances. However the stunning message of this story is that Jesus didn’t solid Martha apart. He left her once more with a option to be made. I’ve usually puzzled if she got here and sat down with him in that second. If she set her apron and oven mitt apart to sit down with Mary at his toes. And the reality is that we don’t know. However that selection is not only for Martha. It’s for us too.
Open your private home to Jesus. Invite him in and put together to provide him your finest, however don’t go away him sitting alone. Take the time to sit down at His toes and pay attention as He fills you with the mandatory Phrases of Reality it is advisable to reside this life. Then make that selection time and again. Could all of us select what is true, higher, and the nice portion every day.
Let’s pray:
Pricey Jesus,
There are such a lot of duties to perform on this life, and I admit that I typically get distracted. Please forgive me for placing my to-do record and worries above time with you. Assist my coronary heart keep turned towards You as I take the time to sit down at your toes, pay attention, and select You time and again. Thank You for Your grace, Your mercy, and Your willingness to let me select once more.
In Your Mighty Title, Jesus, amen.
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