Only One Thing is Needed

Diana Kriesel

Monday, 1/10/11 – Genesis 25 26; Luke 10 - “Only One Thing is Needed”

S – Luke 10:41-42- "Martha, Martha," 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 away from her."

O – Each time you find Mary of Bethany in the gospels, she is in the same place: at the feet of Jesus. It was not wrong for Martha to prepare a meal because people need to eat. What Jesus was addressing was that it was wrong for her to be so preoccupied with her ‘tasks’ that she was missing the most important part. Mary was focused on Jesus; Martha was focused on what needed to be done.

A – I love this passage because it always reminds me that what we do WITH Christ is far more important that what we do FOR Him. Our “to be” list must surpass our “to do” list. I want to know Him more. And the only way to know Him more is to spend more time with Him. Our “to do” list will always be there, however what we do should never take our attention AWAY from “being” with Him…focused on Him…for that is the “one thing” that Jesus is calling us to do. Everything else will fall into place.

P – Lord, draw us closer, so that even when life presses in on us and the tasks and needs around us try to swallow up our attention, we will first and foremost find the place of the “one thing” that is most important of all, and necessary to our lives, and that is finding that place at Your feet. From that place, and that place only, will we find the strength to do all else.