Choices

“Chose for yourself this day who you will serve” (Joshua 24:15)

Sometimes it’s the small and simple words in the bible that have the most punch.  You know, the words we overlook and brush aside as insignificant.  Such is the case in the tenth chapter of Luke, where we read the story of Martha and Mary.  Now these sisters, along with their brother Lazarus, were not merely biblical characters that found themselves written on the pages of scripture.  They weren’t the people down the street from where Jesus lived.  Nor were they some folks Jesus met down by the lake who invited him to dinner one evening.  These were Jesus’ friends.  People he was close to.  People he intentionally spent time with and ministered to.

We know well the story of Mary and Martha.  One of them (Mary) spent time sitting at the feet of Jesus as he taught.  The other sister (Martha) was busy in the kitchen making a stew and missing out on the good words Jesus had to say.  But the simple words we tend to overlook in the story of Mary and Marth are found in the description of what each of these women did.  We are told in verse 40 that Martha was “distracted.”  That is our first significant word we carelessly gloss over.  Distraction means that Martha simply got caught up in things that took priority in her life at that moment.  Don’t we all know what that is like?  Problems, busyness, the unexpected.  Things we didn’t have planned on our calendar for that day – they just happened.  And when they do, they suddenly become the priority in our life.  So much so that they can cause us to lose sight of Christ.  Distractions can allow our emotions to overtake the fruit of the Spirit within us, like Martha allowed.  Her joy and peace, her gentle spirit, her meekness, her self-control suddenly disappeared, and all she could do was accuse Christ as being the one who was insensitive. “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?  Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:40).

But, meanwhile in the living room of Mary and Martha’s home, we find another word that can easily be overlooked.  It is the word “chose” or “chosen”.  Jesus said to Martha, “Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Verse 42).  Mary made a deliberate decision to seek better things, spiritual things.  Martha was all over the place, but Mary chose to be in the best place.

If we don’t make the intentional choice to sit with Jesus, to walk with Jesus, to commit to Jesus our daily lives, we too will be all over the place, filled with the same anxiety and frustration that Martha was filled with.  The good things of God, the good teachings, the good times with God, don’t just drop in our lap – they are chosen.

I encourage you to choose to dwell in Christ’s presence and sit at his feet before you move on and start becoming distracted with the day’s events.

                                                 Darlene