Have You Chosen the Better Part?

In Luke 10:38-42, we meet two sisters, Martha and Mary. They welcomed Jesus into their home. Martha was busy making everything perfect. But Mary sat at Jesus' feet, soaking in His words.

But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; but only one thing is necessary; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)

Jesus didn’t scold Martha for wanting to serve. Hospitality is great, but she got lost in the busyness. Martha forgot why she was serving in the first place, to be near Christ.

Mary understood what mattered most. She didn't let chores pull her away from Jesus. By sitting and listening to Him, she chose the “better part”. This is about having a relationship with Jesus that can never be taken away.

This story highlights a struggle we all deal with today. We need to balance our tasks with time for Jesus. The lesson is clear: service is important, but not at the cost of our relationship with Christ.

Life is busy and full of distractions. It's easy to be like Martha, caught up in what needs to be done. But Jesus reminds us that it’s time with Him that fills our souls. Without that, we can feel empty, even as we try to serve.

Jesus showed us how to make this balance work. In Mark 1:35 it says, “And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and prayed there for a time.” (Mark 1:35)

If Jesus took that time, we should too.

In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus invites us to come to Him for rest: "Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28-30) When we rest in Him and focus on His Word, we find the strength we need to serve well.

Serving God is a wonderful thing. However, our service flows best when we first fill our hearts with His presence. Without time in prayer and study, service becomes just a duty.

In John 15:5, Jesus reminds us, "I am the vine, you are the branches; if you remain in Me, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me, you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

The success of our service relies on our relationship with Christ. The closer we get to Him, the better we can serve, empowered by His Spirit.

For every believer, the challenge is not just to serve, but to serve from a place of closeness to Christ. If we want our service to be meaningful and honor God, it must come from that special time with Him.

In Revelation 3:20, Jesus invites us to share time with Him: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me." (Revelation 3:20)

Jesus is calling us to open our hearts and spend time with Him. In this, we find peace and the ability to serve Him with love.

So, ask yourself: Have I chosen the better part? Are you taking the time to sit at Jesus' feet and hear His voice? In a busy world, let’s make time for what really matters—our closeness with our Savior.

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“What I write is not for everyone, but what I write is meant for someone.”

I am the author of two books: Embracing God's Wisdom: A Journey of Faith and Reflection and Embracing God’s Wisdom: Paul’s Commands for Victorious Living. Both are available on Amazon.

Feel free to share. Let’s encourage one another in faith! Please reach out at: hopeinchrist2024@yahoo.com

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service. (1 Timothy 1:12)