Father, as I sit with You this evening, may I set aside everything that would distract me from You. Let me see only You. Let me hear only You. May I feel only You about me. Amen.

Luke 10:38-42 (<<click to read the passage)

Priorities. To some, setting priorities comes pretty easily, while others may struggle.

I was by no means a great student in my younger years. I would say that I was a good student but I was definitely not a great student. I probably could have been an “A” student, but I was content with a few “Bs” and, though I wasn’t happy with them, I recall a few “Cs” as well. I got by in high school and, really, without being an overachiever, I did OK. Not setting those kinds of priorities didn’t hurt me too much.

When I went to college, my lack of setting priorities, had a far greater impact on me. Again, I was an OK student, but I had a bad habit of putting things off instead of getting a head start on them, and then I had to pull all-nighters to get everything done. …and too often things still didn’t get done – at least not the way they should have.

I have improved with age (in my Adult Studies work for ordination and then the courses I took to pastor in the United Methodist Church I earned mostly As!), but sometimes I still struggle. Not establishing a good mindset concerning prioritizing workload at a young age, continues to nip at my heals in adulthood.

Mary and Martha (who, by the way, were siblings of Lazarus, the man Jesus raised from the dead) were friends and followers of Jesus. On this occasion, Jesus was on way to Jerusalem and Martha welcomed Him into her home.

As you may be aware, Martha was very busy and distracted with all of her serving responsibilities while Mary spent her time seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was continually listening to His teaching.

Husbands are guilty of this quite often, our wives are busy getting ready for company and we tend to be off in la-la land and don’t provide as much help as we probably should.

Interestingly enough, Mary chides Jesus to a degree when she asks Him, “Lord, is it of no concern to You that my sister has left me to do the serving alone? Tell her to help me and do her part.”

Doesn’t that sound like a mom? “Jesus, meaning no disrespect, of course, you’re keeping Mary from helping me get things around for You.” And she literally tells Him, “Tell her to help me and do her part.”

No offense is taken by Jesus, but He kindly reminds Martha of her need to prioritize. He says,

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered and anxious about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part [that which is to her advantage], which will not be taken away from her.”

Do we get so busy doing things for Jesus, that we get to the point where we aren’t spending enough time with Jesus?

Priorities are important throughout life. And if there is anything I have learned, spending time with Jesus needs to be at the top of our list.

June 3rd, 2020, Wed, 9:01 pm