To choose what is better is to prioritize being with Jesus above all else, just as Mary did when she sat at His feet, listening and learning from Him, even when there were many other pressing tasks and distractions around her. In a world filled with endless demands and opportunities for distraction, the invitation remains to draw near to Jesus, to listen to His voice, and to let His presence become the center of your life, knowing that this connection can never be taken away. [54:14]
Luke 10:38-42 (ESV)
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.”
Reflection: What is one practical way you can intentionally set aside time today to sit at Jesus’ feet, even if it means letting go of something “urgent”?
When we lose sight of Jesus and become consumed by distractions, our hearts can fill with frustration, resentment toward others, and even disappointment with God, as seen in Martha’s response; this is a warning to regularly check our focus and realign our hearts with God’s presence and purpose. The subtle drift from connection to distraction can leave us feeling empty and embittered, but Jesus gently calls us back to Himself, inviting us to lay down our striving and return to the “one thing” that truly matters. [01:02:04]
Proverbs 29:18 (The Message)
If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves;
But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.
Reflection: Is there a specific area of your life where frustration or resentment has crept in because you’ve lost sight of Jesus? What would it look like to bring that area back under His care today?
God delights in calling and using those whom the world overlooks or considers unqualified, reminding us that our worth and calling come from Him, not from our achievements or status. Even when we feel disqualified or excluded, Jesus calls us by name, inviting us to follow Him, sit at His feet, and become like Him, for our competence and value are found in Christ alone. [01:08:22]
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (ESV)
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Reflection: Where do you feel disqualified or overlooked in your life? How might God be inviting you to trust His calling and step forward in faith today?
It is possible to do all the right things for God and yet lose the intimacy of relationship with Him, as Jesus warns the church in Ephesus; He calls us to return to our first love, to seek Him above all else, and to let our service flow from a heart of genuine connection rather than mere duty. The invitation is to move beyond box-ticking religion and rediscover the joy and passion of loving God with your whole heart, just as David longed to dwell in God’s presence and gaze upon His beauty. [01:14:46]
Revelation 2:2-5 (ESV)
“I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”
Reflection: What is one way you can rekindle your “first love” for Jesus today, making space for honest, heartfelt connection with Him?
Jesus calls each of us personally and tenderly, even repeating our names as He did with Martha, to draw us out of distraction and back into deep, life-giving relationship with Him; He reassures us that we are redeemed, called, and never alone, no matter how far we may have drifted. His invitation is to experience the unforced rhythms of grace, to walk with Him, and to find true rest and purpose as beloved sons and daughters of God. [01:21:02]
Isaiah 43:1-2 (ESV)
But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.”
Reflection: Take a moment to imagine Jesus calling your name twice today—what is He inviting you to leave behind, and what step can you take to respond to His call for deeper connection?
This morning, the focus is on the deep worthiness of God and the invitation to draw near to Him—not just through our service, but through genuine connection and worship. Drawing from Psalm 95, we are reminded that God is not only our Creator but also the loving Shepherd who watches over us, and that our worship is a response to His care and faithfulness. The story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10 serves as a powerful lens to examine our own lives: are we distracted by the many tasks and worries, or are we choosing the “better” part—sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening, learning, and being transformed?
Life is a series of choices, and often we are tempted to measure our worth or success by what we accomplish or how well we serve. Yet, as illustrated by the “bigger or better” game and the story of a family meal, the true value lies in presence and relationship, not in accumulation or achievement. Martha’s distraction, though rooted in good intentions, leads to frustration, resentment, and even the presumption to tell Jesus what He should do. This is a warning for us: when we lose sight of our “why”—our purpose in Christ—we can easily drift into a life of constant distraction, missing the deeper invitation to intimacy with God.
The cultural context of “sitting at the feet” of a rabbi reveals that Jesus calls not the qualified, but those willing to follow, learn, and become like Him. Feelings of disqualification or unworthiness are some of the greatest sources of distraction, causing us to settle for busyness instead of connection. Yet, Jesus’ response to Martha—calling her name twice—echoes throughout Scripture as a sign of deep love, reassurance, and personal invitation. God calls each of us by name, inviting us out of distraction and striving, and into a life marked by grace, rest, and authentic relationship.
The fruitfulness God desires in our lives does not come from relentless striving, but from abiding in Him. Just as an apple tree bears fruit naturally by remaining rooted, so too do we bear spiritual fruit by staying connected to Jesus. The invitation is clear: come to Him, learn the unforced rhythms of grace, and rediscover the joy and rest that comes from a heart fully surrendered and attentive to His presence.
Luke 10:38-42 (ESV) — > 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.”
Psalm 95:6-7 (ESV) — > Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
> let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
> For he is our God,
> and we are the people of his pasture,
> and the sheep of his hand.
Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV) — > Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
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