One Thing Is Needed

The story of Mary and Martha is very familiar to me (Luke 10:38-42). I can easily skim over this Scripture passage and not receive what God may be teaching me from it. Reading Having A Mary Heart In A Martha World, by Joanna Weaver, helps me to stop and think.

Only "One Thing Is Needed"

And, when I am stressed, I must ask myself, "Have I made time for that One Thing?" "Do my priorities show in my activity?" For me, stress can be a barometer of my heart's distractions.

Only "One Thing Is Needed"

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.

But one thing is needed" (vs. 41b-42a).

Only One Thing: Sitting at the feet of Jesus. Everything else comes into perspective and order. I experience peace and LIFE. I know His heart. I know what busyness He wants me to avoid, and what specific tasks He has given me (not just what I have given me). His burden is much easier to carry than my own. I MUST sit at the feet of Jesus, for the sake of my family . . . there is no other choice.

Only "One Thing Is Needed"

Evangelism: Everything Changed

During our church service this morning, a song was sung called, "Tell Me When," written by our pastor, Jamie Page. Some of the lyrics are:

When will I look upon Your glory? When will I hear Your voice again?
When will I feel Your restoration? Tell me, Lord, tell me when?
"When you receive My grace, and from your sin you choose to turn away
Receiving the life I have to give.
When you take hold of My hand, and repent of trying to stand alone.
My child, that's when, everything changes!"

He talked about a Christian walking with the Lord for 10-30 years and still not having much fruit to show, still struggling with sin patterns, still not having developed a prayer life, still not having regular times of Bible reading, etc.

I could truly relate to that description and praise God that He brought me from a life of "wasted wealth" (Prov. 29:3) into the Life He has planned for me. God has blessed me with a rich heritage in the Lord, but I didn't want to embrace evangelism. I justified my decision: "That's a special calling that God gives to people called Evangelists." or "NonChristians can see my life and that I live for Christ." or "If they want to know, they'll ask me." I knew that Jesus wanted more for my life in this area, but I wasn't willing to walk away from my comfort zone. I was surrounded by Believers in my comfortable church family and even employment, and didn't want to venture out.

Once I surrendered that area of my life, Everything Changed! The adventure hasn't stopped since!

To feel the presence of the Living God and

look forward to spending time with Him;

To share the wealth of my Christian heritage

with others around me,

and build relationships with nonBelievers

to impact their world for the cause of Christ;

From the guilt-ridden life of failure

in not spending time

reading the Bible on a regular basis,

not engaging in prayer,

and not sharing my faith.

Wow! Everything changed!