Your best intentions can be your greatest distractions

"And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:41-42).

Its interesting that although Mary received the greater blessing from Jesus' visit into her home, it was Martha who had invited him in. In verse 38 we read, "Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house" (v.38). Martha recognized that Jesus was a worthy man when she welcomed him into her home and scurried about to be hospitable to her honored guest. She was well intentioned as she anxiously went about making preparations to serve Him. But as Martha was busy serving, her sister sat at Jesus feet to learn of him. Immediately after referencing this detail of Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus, Doctor Luke points out, "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." To this well intentioned but frustrated woman Jesus said, "Martha, Martha, thou art careful (anxious) and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

This morning I got up anxious to finish preparing my sermon. Although sermon preparation is vitally important, the Holy Spirit reminded me that I needed to do something even more important than preparing a Christmas sermon to preach on Sunday which so happens to fall this year on Christmas day. As anxious as I was to get the sermon completed, what I needed more was to spend some time at the feet of Jesus. I needed to be with my savior. I needed to talk to Him, I needed to cry out to him and I needed to hear his calm and reassuring voice telling me, "I am with you always..." But most of all I just needed to worship Him--to be still and know that He is God--that he has it all under control. I'm so glad I chose that better part which shall not be taken from me. Don't allow frustrated people that just don't get it, don't allow the things that need to get done, don't allow your better intentions keep from the very best part, which is to sit at the feet of the lover of your soul. Your best intentions are your greatest distraction when they keep you from the greatest blessing of communing with Jesus.