Right Choice
Today’s Verse:
But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. ~Luke 10:42
What is the best choice you’ve ever made? Hopefully, your answer was, “Accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior!” However, the Christian life is one where we are faced with constant choices. Elijah challenged the people of Israel by telling them, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” God told Moses and the Israelites to “choose life.” Jesus came to the home of Martha and Mary. Both sisters made a choice about Jesus and worship. Both made a good choice, but only one made a right choice. Let us see the right choice when it comes to Jesus and our worship.
We see a haughty PERCEPTION.
“But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.” Jesus made a visit to the home of Martha and Mary. What excitement must have been in their hearts that Jesus came to spend some time with them! However, whereas Martha received Jesus as a Guest, Mary received Him as God! Mary stopped everything she was doing, and listened to His word. Martha went into serving mode, and “was cumbered about much serving.” Martha was trying to impress Jesus with her efforts. Martha developed a martyr complex, and complained she was all alone serving. She became bitter and upset that Mary was being ministered to by the Lord. Martha had a heavy, burdensome perception that the Lord is impressed more with our ministering than with our motivation. When our worship is centered on us and what we are doing to impress the Lord, He sees right through this and is saddened.
We see a holy PRIORITY.
First, there was a loving rebuke. “And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things.” His rebuke pointed out that she was serving with the wrong motive. His rebuke pointed out that she had no joy in serving the Lord. Are you someone who, like Martha, is careful and troubled about many things? Second, there was a loyal responsibility. “But one thing is needful…” That one thing that was needful was that Jesus demands 100% of our attention and heart’s devotion. “…And Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Mary made the right choice! Jesus said she chose that good part. We choose to be happy, or choose to be sad. We choose to be motivated, or choose not to be motivated. We choose to be involved, or not to be involved. We choose to honor the Lord, or not to honor the Lord. Mary chose that good part: she chose to listen to Jesus!
We see a happy PERSON.
Jesus said that Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Mary chose that which gave her great peace. “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” Mary chose that which gave her great strength. “…Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Mary chose that which drew her closer to the Lord. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” In John 12, we read about Mary coming to Jesus with an alabaster box filled with spikenard. It was valued as a year’s wages. She broke the stem off the box, and poured all of it on Jesus to demonstrate her love for Him. She did this publicly and without reservation. One thing is for sure: Mary was a happy person! Happy people obey the Lord. Happy people get all they can of Jesus when they meet with Him. Happy people are able to discern between serving the Lord and being saturated with the Lord. Happy people do not live with human-imposed burdens: they are living with hearts set free from selfish concerns, and instead filled with His grace and love.
Mary made the right choice! Will you make the right choice about Jesus today?
Have a prioritized God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Esther 1-5