Today’s Reading: Luke 10:38-11:13

Key  Verse:  “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” Luke 10:42

Jesus knew Mary’s heart and Martha’s as well. He understood the cares and the stresses of life that each experienced. In this home, he saw how Martha strived to put forth a good image, to be a good hostess, to be hospitable to the crowd of disciples who entered her home with the LORD. He understood that she saw the want, the need, the lack of certain things in the situation. He also saw Mary at her feet, longing to know the will of God, longing to draw closer to God, desperate to be strengthened and renewed. He knew her weariness of living with Martha who always had to be DOING something! There was never a quiet moment, never any planned downtime in Martha’s home. Jesus saw what was going on inside of Martha and Mary.

There was a cultural norm at work here too. Martha was trying to be hospitable to the guests and submissive to this cultural norm — only men were taught by the Rabbi. Men were allowed to enter the inner court at the Temple while the women and the Gentile converts were kept at a distance. But Mary wanted to be with Jesus and rejected this cultural norm. She really wanted to spend time with Him. She needed Him more than she needed the acceptance of society.

Martha’s complaint was an accusation against the LORD rather than her sister. While she mentioned the deficiency she saw in her sister, she was clearly scolding our LORD publicly. “LORD, do You not care?” she exclaimed. Martha, caught up in her own worries about the circumstances, had let these worries interfere with her faith in God. Does God care? What a question … YES! He cares enough to come to us, to reveal Himself and His will to us, to heal and comfort us, to grant us heavenly wisdom, to correct us and discipline our lives that we might enjoy the abundance He desires for us. God cares enough to send His only begotten Son into the world as a sacrifice for your sins. He does indeed care. Why did Martha question this truth? She let worry and trouble about many things cloud her mind, clog her beliefs, and keep her focused on her problems. Peter wrote “casting all YOUR care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Pet 5:7, NKJV). Refuse to let doubt, worry, and seemingly insurmountable problems enter your soul and cloud your faith.

Choose the good part: “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42, NKJV). Mary was committed to spending time with Jesus. Whenever we choice to spend time with Jesus, we choose the best.