Luke 10:38-42 (NRSV)
Read Luke 10:38-42 on biblegateway.com
Verse 38Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Verse 39She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. Verse 40But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." Verse 41But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; Verse 42there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."
Devotion
I learned how to be a Bible student in the mid 1960’s when I joined my girlfriend at a Bible School in Seattle WA. We learned much over two years, sitting at Jesus’ feet, as it were, like Mary did in today’s reading from Luke. She knew that she was in the presence of a master teacher and she took advantage of the opportunity even when her sister asked her for help in their kitchen. One of my Bible school teachers would often say to us students “Observe the text!” She meant that we should read the passage before us, read it a second time, meditate on it, ask questions about it, read other versions of it, etc. The more we would explore it, the more God’s Holy Spirit would bring other insights to mind. No wonder Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet in order to listen and learn and be inspired even more. Lay person or pastor, choose to continue to be a Bible student and be blessed by the Lord’s instruction.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, as we hear your Word through Bible reading, worship, and general study may your Spirit continue to stretch and deepen our faith in you. We pray in your Name. Amen.