JANUARY 28, 2015
Battling
Distractions
Read: Luke
10:38-42
Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her. —Luke 10:42
Every day I drive the
same highway to and from the office, and every day I see an alarming number of
distracted drivers. Usually they’re talking on the phone or texting, but I have
also seen people reading the newspaper, putting on makeup, and eating a bowl of
cereal while trying to maneuver a car at 70+ miles per hour! In some
circumstances, distractions are fleeting and harmless. In a moving vehicle,
they can kill.
Sometimes distractions
can be a problem in our relationship with God. In fact, that was the concern
Jesus had for His friend Martha. She “was distracted by all the preparations
that had to be made” for a meal (Luke 10:40 niv). When she complained about her
sister Mary’s lack of help (apparently due to her devotion to Christ and His
teaching), Jesus told her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about
many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which
will not be taken away from her” (vv.41-42).
Martha’s distractions
were well-intentioned. But she was missing the opportunity to listen to Jesus
and enjoy His presence. He is deserving of our deepest devotion, and He alone
can fully enable us to overcome any of life’s distractions.
Lord, I want a heart like Mary’s—that takes
time to sit at Your feet to learn from You and
be
close to You. And I want a heart like
Martha’s—
that takes time to serve You, the One I love.
If you want to be miserable, look within;
distracted, look around; peaceful, look up.
INSIGHT:
Martha’s distractions
in Luke 10 brought a loving challenge from Jesus. But after the death of her
brother Lazarus (John 11:17-27), we see that she was fully focused on Him. She
affirmed her confidence that Jesus had a special relationship with the Father
(v.22) and then declared her belief in the coming resurrection (v.24). Ultimately,
she voiced her clear conviction that Jesus is the Son of God (v.27).
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012