Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Invitation to Christ’s hospitality

Luke 10: 38-42

“But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”. vs 42

 

Mary and Martha are two women in Scripture who supported Jesus’ earthly ministry. Martha gets upset with Mary because she was not helping her. Jesus extolled Mary and corrected Martha. Mary could have helped Martha and they both could have sat at His feet. Whatever we do, make the right choice. Jesus said, “…one thing is necessary'' (v.42). Martha welcomed Jesus into her home, displaying a typical act of hospitality.

Martha is hospitable and hardworking, but she is distracted, worried, pulled in many directions, uptight, and upset. When we try to do too much it leads to frustration. Martha was so busy it became a burden and not a blessing. She lost the joy of serving people because she was more focused on her need to work to serve others. In fact, the Bible teaches we are not saved by good works, but we are saved to do good works. The issue here is that Martha got her eyes off Jesus and on to herself. We have to make sure our serving does not become self-serving. Serve without complaining. Serve without calling attention to ourselves. Martha starts complaining about what Mary is not doing. When people get distracted, they easily get divided. While Martha was focused on the details of doing many things that were urgent, Mary saw the priority of the one thing that was important. Mary faced the same challenges we face every single day, yet she chose the better part, and that's what enabled her to be undistracted. Our relationship with God, is the most important thing, because it doesn't go away

 Martha’s worry and distraction prevents her from being truly present with Jesus, and causes her to drive a wedge between her sister and herself, and between Jesus and herself. She has missed out on the “one thing needed” for true hospitality. There is no greater hospitality than listening to our guest. So Jesus says that Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.

Spending time with Jesus is about knowing God and listening to Him. The Christian life is both, work and worship. whatever we do, do all for the glory of God. Our work should be an outflow of our worship. Our labour should be an overflow of our love. 

Every day make the right choice. Daily sit at the feet of Jesus and learn from Him. Listen to His word. The only way to defeat selfishness is to spend time in the Word and find time for prayer. The only way to overcome worry is to spend time with Jesus. So let us submit ourselves to be with our Lord each day. 

PRAYER
Lord, help us to be with you and select the best part for our life. Amen.

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:8

 

Rev. Saju C. Pappachen.
Vicar, St. Thomas MTC, Yonkers, NY

Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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