Living God, pour out blessing upon blessing in the life and needs of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray,amen.
Here is our text for today: Luke 10: 38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." 41 But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42 there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."
Ah, the bliss and blessing of family! And ah, the bliss and blessing of family during what one comedian called "second tier holidays" like Father's Day! One gets excited almost to the point of stress, to have the house clean and ready, the fridge stocked with goodies and snacks that family likes, the bedding washed and at least a mental outline of the sleeping arrangements; then the family comes and within moments they're gone again. Sadness for a few hours over what seems like a short visit.
Ah, the sheer horror of unexpected visitors! I've talked about the difference between guests and visitors. Guest are invited and expected; visitors just drop in. The doorbell sends hosts running to the door at the anointed hour of arrival of guests; hiding when visitors come. Martha had Jesus and His disciples come by. She "welcomed Him into her home," which means this may not have been a prearranged thing. And to make matters worse, her sister whom she thought she could count on to help prepare for this perhaps unexpected visit, recognized Jesus and His ability to teach, so she sat down and listened to His teachings. Martha was frantic about getting everything in order and reached the point where she goes to Jesus and asks, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself?" Didn't you teach something to that effect? Isn't there a part of the Law that addresses lazy sisters? And bam! Jesus shares the truth: You're missing out on the better thing by worrying about so many things. Mary got it right, you didn't.
After family leaves and you take stock of all that went right and wrong, did you focus on time together? On your conversations? On making your family ties stronger? Or were you too worried about this and that, that you missed out on the greater part? In the same way we can get so preoccupied in so many things in so many areas of our lives, including our spiritual lives that we miss out on the most important part; what Jesus has to say.
PRAYER: Loving God, I thank You for Your presence and for Your visits. May I learn to focus on the main thing and not be distracted or stressed by the minor things. Forgive me those times that I have worried so much about this and that and missed You. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
