Choose Life

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.   She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.    But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”  “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10: 38-42

Life is full of seasons.  Some seasons are so overwhelming with responsibilities and unnecessary distractions that we have very little time to sit at His feet.  We may spend time in His Word, and we may spend time praying for our ‘top priorities,’ but we don’t have time to soak in His presence.Most women love to just soak in a hot bath with soothing bath salts and relax after an overwhelming day.  We feel less stressed and more relaxed.  As a believer, when we have a free morning or hour, we need to relax and soak in His presence.  We have to prioritize it to make it happen.  The reason it is called a prayer closet is that we literally have to shut ourselves away from the messy house, dirty dishes, the unfinished emails, and the endless notifications on our cell phones. 

Many times we are so caught up with the pressures of life that even when we take the time to be in His presence, we are not ‘present’.  Do you remember your first love?  Wouldn’t you drop everything, if possible to spend some extra time with your love?  Did you ever regret that special rendezvous?  You will never regret sitting at His feet.  In fact, you will find it so refreshing you will begin to plan your next rendezvous with God!  Let’s look at the story of Mary and Martha, when Jesus said “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things.  But few things are needed--or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” When reading the story of Mary and Martha, I used to think, people were like either Mary or Martha.  And I would justify my losses by thinking, ‘I’m just like Martha. I’m always about His work, taking care of my family and of all the details.’  It wasn’t that Mary didn’t feel compelled to do the housework or prepare the food.  She made a decision to STOP everything and sit at the feet of Jesus and listen.  Mary stopped her busyness and took captive the distractions in life.  Jesus says, “Mary has CHOSEN the better part and it will not be taken away from her.”  We have to prioritize. We are responsible for our own choices.  When we don’t choose “what is better”, we often will become jealous and upset at the person getting blessed with revelation from God. We justify our attitudes of bitterness and jealousy by all the work we do for God. These ungodly attitudes in our lives should be huge red flags for us that something is wrong with our personal walk with God. Could it be we are missing revelation from God because of our choices?   Have you chosen ‘the better part’ or ‘the busy part’?  

This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. Deuteronomy 30:19