38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.
40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.
42 “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42
As we have been praying about our upcoming trip the Lord has been putting these verses on my heart. (Hence the name of our blog) So I thought I would share a few thoughts from my heart. Though it is not a typical missionary verse, the Lord keeps bringing it to the forefront of my mind! It’s like I can hear him whispering, “choose that good part.” No matter where we are we can get so caught up in life or even in serving the Lord that we forget the main thing, sitting at His feet! We feel more worthy and more productive when we spend all our time doing things for the Lord and spending no time with Him. We find our identity in the work we do for him instead of in Him, but that is the very thing that causes Christians to get “burnt out” in ministry
There are a few key words that stand out to me in this passage of scripture: distracted, worried, one thing, needed, and good part.
Martha, Mary, and Lazarus were close friends of Jesus who lived in Bethany. Jesus spent time at their house on various occasions. On this particular visit Martha was distracted. She was serving Jesus but was so caught up in the work that she neglected the Lord! She was busy doing good things but not the one thing that was needed, which was sitting at the Lord’s feet. She was bitter that she was doing all the hard work while Mary just sat around. (Sounds like a typical sister haha) Growing up in a house full of girls with parents that have the gift of hospitality I can totally get what Martha is thinking. In fact, I’m sure I have had a very similar argument with my sisters before. I can imagine Martha thinking, “Yes! Jesus will set her straight!” Only to find out that she was the one that needed to be corrected.
One thing have I desired of the Lord, that I will seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. (Psalm 27:4)
When Jesus heard these things, he said to him, “You still lack one thing … come, follow Me.” (Luke 18:22)
Because she was not focused on the Lord she was worried. Jesus tell us that she was “worried about many things.” The bible tells us not to worry, but to trust the Lord in all things. Paul tells us in Philippians,
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
And in
Matthew 6:25 (NKJV) 25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
While Martha was worrying away Mary was being refreshed at the Lord’s feet, But ONE thing is NEEDED. Before we can serve others we need to sit at the feet of Jesus. That way we can be filled with his power and His Spirit! With God all things are possible, but without Him we can do nothing. In our own strength, our righteousness is as filthy rags. Jesus himself often took time away to be with the Father! And if Jesus needed it so do we. It is the love of Christ that compels us. In 2 Corinthians 5 Paul says,
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 20-21
Ministry should flow out of our time with Jesus. And that truly is the good part that will not be taken away from us!
It is our desire that as we serve the Lord the next 6 months in different countries that we would be sitting at the Lord’s feet and following Him so closely. That we would be open and willing to do whatever he calls us to do. We know he will give us the strength!
We hope that you will join us in prayer as we travel to the uttermost parts of the world. We will be posting updates throughout our trip so you can see how we are doing and more specific prayer requests.
Pray
that we would keep the Lord first and choose that good part
For health
Direction, ears that are sensitive to the Holy Spirit
Safety (some of the areas we are going to can be dangerous)
choosingthatbetterpart 