The One Thing

“Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.’ “ (Luke 10:39-42 NLT)

I have read this story a million times, but tonight the Lord stopped me in my tracks. “My dear daughter, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about.”

As you can read earlier in the chapter, Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, listening. She merely sat in His presence and found His peace. She discovered the peace of Christ not in the doing but in the being; and that peace is ours for the taking. 

That is the ONE THING worth being concerned about. We merely have to sit at His feet. Listen. “And it WILL NOT be taken away from her” (emphasis mine.) I am standing on that. Claiming that for myself and my family. Our battles are fought on our knees, at the feet of Jesus. I just imagine Him, gently taking Martha’s hand, and tenderly, lovingly correcting her. “Sit, daughter. Do not worry. Listen. Peace.”

Prayer:  Lord, You are so loving in Your correction of Your children. Thank You that the details and the worries of this world are not ours to figure out. You are our loving Father, who holds the world in His hands. Concern our hearts with only You, Jesus. Amen. 

~ Allison Gardner