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“But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
(Luke 10:41-42, New Living Translation)
One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.”
(Psalm 27:4, English Standard Version)
Today’s Reading: Luke 10
Listen to Luke 10 on her.BIBLE.
Have you ever felt distracted or overwhelmed by having too much to do? Especially around the Christmas season? Many people have, which is why the story of Mary and Martha is so relatable (see verses 38-42 for the full context).
Our busy culture says that you should be an expert multitasker: get good grades in school, spend time with your family, find a hobby, go to church, keep a clean house and much more. But in God’s kingdom, it’s not about doing many things; instead, one thing is best. Mary understands this. While her sister runs around cleaning, cooking and preparing, Mary sits at Jesus’ feet. She listens to Him, honors Him and soaks up everything He has to say.
Preparing for a party looks like cleaning and decorating. And all of that work can distract you from the joy of simply being present with your friends. But preparing for Jesus looks like sitting in His presence and learning from Him. It’s a different kind of preparation that still requires intentional effort and discipline. But the focus is not on what you do to keep busy or how you can look like a good Christian; it’s simply about being with Jesus.
Mary and Martha waited on the Lord in different ways. One was focused on doing and one was focused on being. Jesus tells the sisters that Mary chose the better option by sitting at His feet and listening to Him teach.
What does it look like for you to wait on Jesus?
In the Psalms, David describes how he waited upon the Lord. He wrote, “One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple” (Psalm 27:4, ESV). To gaze upon the beauty of the Lord is to focus on His goodness, celebrate His faithfulness, worship Him for who He is and continue to learn more about Him. This waiting is not about doing things for Jesus or to impress others. It’s about enjoying your relationship with Jesus. You can do this by reading the Bible, worshiping God through music, enjoying His creation and talking to Him in prayer.
What distracts you from focusing on Jesus?
What needs to change in how you wait on Jesus? Are you too busy “doing” to spend time in His presence?
What would help you make the changes you need?
Jesus, I know that being with You is the most important thing. Help me to not get caught up in busyness that distracts me from my relationship with You. Teach me, instead, to sit at Your feet to worship You and learn from You. Thank You that You have already accomplished all of the work necessary for me to have a relationship with You. Show me what it looks like to prepare well for You.
What is spiritual growth and why is it important? Explore more about how to grow spiritually.
Kailene Lewis is a Cru® staff member in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was involved with Cru as a student at Boise State University, served for a year in Moscow, Russia, and now serves college students as part of the Indy Metro team. One of her favorite parts about serving with Cru is coming alongside students as they grow in their faith. She also enjoys the opportunity to travel and experience different cultures.
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