Listen to Devotion

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

There’s a lot of work to do. People are depending on you. No one else is going to do it if you don’t, and people are going to be disappointed if it’s not done.

It would be okay if you could get it all done without stressing out, but it’s impossible. How do people keep from being worried and upset when they have so much to get done?

Only one thing is needed: Jesus. Listening to his Word is more important than getting stuff done. Stop going so fast and hear that again: listening to his Word is more important than getting stuff done.

You hear it all the time from survivors of fires or floods: the stuff is gone, but the people are safe, so we’re okay. Those survivors realize that relationships are more important than stuff.

Our relationship with Jesus is most important, whether life is stormy or calm. His part in the relationship is speaking to us with the words of the Bible. Our part of the relationship is listening. His words of forgiveness and peace are worth hearing.

Lord Jesus, keep me from being distracted from you and your Word by the busyness of this life so that I can be comforted by your promises. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.