One Thing Is Needed...

Luke 10:38-42 tells the story of Martha & Mary. It says both of them 'sat at Jesus' feet, indicating He was their teacher, & they His students.

In ancient near East culture, it was the custom to serve a stranger or guest who enters your home. Water for every guests feet, a meal, clean clothes to change into from their journey. It was a way of welcoming that ensured a mutual blessing from the guest in return. It showed honor & love, as well as guaranteeing protection from their guest in the future, forming an "alliance". It was only after the guest was provided for that you could sit & ask questions. But here, Mary sits as soon as Jesus does, & begins listening to what He has to say.

To 'sit' at someone's feet shows honor to them, declaring that they are your 'rabbi', your teacher. That you are closely going to follow everything they say & do, in order to learn from them.

Mary broke custom to sit at Jesus' feet- especially as a woman. But Jesus wasn't an ordinary guest. To know your time was limited with someone would mean you wouldn't want to miss a thing.

Both women wanted to honor Jesus. Both women considered Him their teacher. But only one recognized that this guest, this time was very different. That to stay & listen as long as possible was actually what this guest wanted. Both serving and sitting to listen show honor of a guest.

Do we also get distracted by what is 'customary'- because that's what you're 'supposed' to do? Or, do we recognize that what Jesus actually wants, is someone who will sit & listen because He wants to share His heart?

This "one thing..." Jesus spoke of reminds me of David's heart cry, & seems to echo it-

"One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after..."

Jesus' words to Martha were that she was 'worried, troubled' or upset. Why?

She was judging her sister for being so irresponsible- to leave her to do all the work. Perhaps she became angry at her sister, as she also wanted to sit & listen, but in Martha's mind she wouldn't get to because she had all this work. If her sister would just get up & help, then she would be free too. She was being 'held back' by this. But, Jesus addresses it as a choice Martha had made, to be busy instead of sitting & listening. The invitation from Jesus was to all.

He was almost implying that it wasn't her sister holding her back- it was herself.

Mary had the cry in her heart like David- recognizing THIS was no ordinary moment! She needed to sit & hear everything this man, whom they had waited for their entire lives, had to say. She didn't want to miss a word.

God, help me to have this posture once again. Where I have become distracted by so many things. Responsibilities. I don't want to miss the moment You've called me to. Like David, I would have the hearts' cry- "ONE THING I have desired of the Lord, THAT will I seek..."

To KNOW You.

To set aside all of the distractions, worries, troubles- not to dwell in conversation over these things, to give them my attention when You already know-

But to INQUIRE of You- WHO ARE YOU GOD?

To BEHOLD Your beauty! What does GOD look like, sound like. I want to be FASCINATED by You!

To DWELL- to linger, to sit, to spend time in Your presence & to recognize - THIS is the most important thing I can do today - to sit with GOD.

Because to behold Him is to become like Him. And THIS is the goal. To be transformed into His image. To be made an entirely new creation.

To recognize the importance of the One in the room, & to be willing to give Him my time.

Jesus said of this:

"But one thing is needed, & Mary had chosen that good part..."

Let this be our prayer God.

We choose the ONE THING.