“We must learn to have Mary’s attentiveness to Christ in order to navigate the daily challenges of Martha’s world.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – December 8, 2022
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42, ESV
“You are anxious and troubled about many things.”
Is there a single sentence that more fully and accurately diagnoses the condition of our modern world? Though this tendency toward anxiety lives deep within the human heart and can be found in every age and culture, it seems that our interconnected, digital, and global society has only served to elevate these human tendencies toward troubled hearts and anxious lives. It is for good reason that “mental health professionals” is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world! And while we thank God for them and welcome the expertise and care that they bring, here in Luke 10 we are given a starting point, a foundation upon which a non-anxious life can be built.
Though the details of our lives are unique to us, there are common threads that unite our stories and create shared experiences. We’ve all had to juggle one too many balls and know the feeling of being overextended. Each of us has experienced the scarcity of time, with more to do than can possibly be done. And we’ve all battled feelings of inadequacy, underprepared for the task at hand. In truth, these are constant battles that stay with us throughout our lives. The secret is not to make them go away, but to learn to see them through the lens of Christ and his kingdom.
We must learn to have Mary’s attentiveness to Christ in order to navigate the daily challenges of Martha’s world.
Yes, there are some who live their entire lives as a Mary, fully consecrated to Christ in lives of prayer and worship. However, most of us reading these words today find ourselves fully immersed in the complexities and challenges of daily life. And in truth, Mary soon returned to Martha’s side, joining her in the daily labors of domestic life. However, she returned changed, transformed by her encounter with Christ as she sat at his feet, and this is the path that each of us must learn to walk.
When we fail to sit at the feet of Christ and orient our lives to his ways, we are quickly overrun and undone by the cares of this world. Yet as we carve out daily rhythms of renewal, time spent with our hearts on high with the Lord, each and every potential source of anxiety is transformed into an opportunity for trust and deepened faith.
Prayer
Father, may I never neglect time in your presence that reorients me to truth and gives me a faithful lens through which I can see the world as it truly is, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
Before rushing into your day, take time every morning this week to simply sit in Christ’s presence, meditating on Scripture and praying for his life to be your own.
Related Reading
Isaiah 41:10; Philippians 4:6; 1 John 4:18
Worship Resource
Lauren Daigle: Rescue
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