Only One
Call me old fashioned, but I love my small paper calendar. I love toting it around in my purse. I love a pen tucked into its spiral, so I can cross out each day as it goes by. I also love filling in all the important dates of a new year ahead— birthdays, weddings, conferences, etc. If I’m not careful I can easily get carried away by adding different colored highlighters and stickers trying to make a busy schedule look fun. Yet in reality, once all the squares in my paper calendar are full, then no matter how fun I can make it appear, I can also easily become worried, bothered, and anxious about so many events to prepare for!
As much as I love my paper calendar, I love my paper Bible even more. I use it more than any Bible on a device. Every day I dive into its stories and events— and I never feel worried, bothered or anxious about any of it! Recently, tucked into the thin pages of Luke 10, I read about a woman named Martha who clings to her busy schedule. In the story, we get to watch her learn through her sister how important it is to come instead of cling, to choose calm over chaos. She learns to put down “all the things” and to sit with The One Thing.
Let’s read about The One in Luke 10:38-42.
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
It would appear that even in Jesus’ day, sibling rivalry was a thing. Did Jesus recognize this? I wonder if that’s why he called out Martha’s name twice. You know, like when we call out our children by their first and middle name, so they know we mean business! I also wonder what the birth order was for Mary, Martha, and Lazarus? If Mary was the baby, did she always get the easy road out while the older sister got stuck doing everything? Did Martha want to order her a shirt off Etsy that says, “Favorite Child”?
Jesus doesn’t play favorites though; his heart is gentle and guiding. Martha wasn’t doing anything wrong. She probably wasn’t jealous or mad at her sister. She simply wanted to serve and feed her guests. Maybe what she didn’t understand in the moment was that she needed to be fed before she could feed.
“Jodie Renee, put down your calendar. Come sit with me and I will prepare you for what’s ahead.” Jesus is peace and when we sit at the feet of The One, fully present in His presence, we will begin to balance our hearts not our schedules.
What are all the things you can put down today, in order to spend time with The One thing?
Celebrating one year of video devotions!
New shirt, “Only one” has arrived in the shop:
