Choosing the Good Part: Finding Jesus in the Midst of Busyness
Have you ever felt so overwhelmed with your to-do list that you forgot to pause and connect with God? In our fast-paced world, it's easy to fall into the trap of prioritizing tasks over relationships – even our relationship with Jesus. But what if I told you that there's a better way? A way to find peace and purpose amidst the chaos of daily life?
The Story of Mary and Martha
Let's take a look at a familiar story from Luke 10:38-42. Jesus enters the home of two sisters, Mary and Martha. While Martha busies herself with preparations, Mary sits at Jesus' feet, listening to His words. Martha, frustrated by her sister's apparent lack of help, complains to Jesus:
"Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me" (Luke 10:40).
But Jesus' response might surprise you:
"Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:41-42).
The Danger of Ritualistic Devotions
Now, you might be thinking, "But pastor, isn't having daily devotions a good thing?" Absolutely! However, we need to be careful not to fall into the trap of treating our time with God as just another item on our checklist. As I shared in the sermon:
"There's no place in this word that talks about daily devotions as we know them today... I've seen what can happen in the lives of some people. It becomes another item on the checklist."
The temptation is to "become more faithful to the 15 minutes than to the Savior." We must guard against letting our devotional times become an object of worship in themselves.
Choosing the Good Part
So, what does it mean to choose the good part like Mary did? It's about prioritizing our relationship with Jesus above all else. Mary was so enamored with Jesus that she was completely focused on Him. As I speculated in the sermon:
"When I think about what's going on here with Mary and Jesus, I think Mary was that way. I think you could have had a herd of elephants coming into that house, and she was so into Jesus, just so enamored with him, so in love with him."
This is the kind of devotion Jesus is looking for from us. It's not about perfectly executed prayer times or Bible reading plans. It's about being "smitten" with Jesus, allowing His presence to overwhelm us.
Practical Steps for Choosing the Good Part
As I mentioned in the sermon, "You have busyness, that's one option, or you have presence, that's the other option." Choose to be present with Jesus, even if it means letting go of some tasks.
"When is the last time in your daily devotional life that you planned something different? Have you ever sung a song in your worship by yourself?" Don't be afraid to mix things up and make your time with Jesus personal and meaningful.
Throughout the Bible, we see people falling at Jesus' feet in worship and adoration. Make it a practice to mentally position yourself at His feet, ready to listen and learn.
When you spend time with Jesus, eliminate distractions. As I said in the sermon, be like Mary, who was "so into Jesus, just so enamored with him, so in love with him... he was just everything."
Life Application: Putting It Into Practice
Remember, as Bruce Barton said, "Jesus wants diligent service, but even more, he desires that you relax, set aside worries, urgent responsibilities, and come to him with singleness of mind."
In conclusion, let's challenge ourselves to be more like Mary. To choose the good part that cannot be taken away from us. To be so in love with Jesus that everything else fades into the background when we're in His presence. After all, isn't that what our hearts truly long for?