Daily
Devotional

An acquaintance of mine is involved in local stage productions of musical and theatrical plays. She once related an experience to me that was both comical and quite embarrassing. Typically, my friend’s role is to sing in choruses or ensembles and participate on the stage as an extra. However, on this occasion, she had been given a speaking role. At just the right moment in the play, she was to speak her part—which consisted of only one word. Believe it or not, during one of the performances, when it came time for her to utter her single-word speech, she forgot her word!

In today’s focus verse, Jesus reminded Martha that there is one thing that is needful in life: communion with God. Somehow, she had forgotten that single requirement. Like my friend, who must have been distracted when her part came, Martha had become distracted by everyday cares. She busied herself with chores and ultimately failed to accomplish the one thing Jesus wanted her to do. In contrast, Mary knew her part, and Jesus was pleased that she “sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word” (Luke 10:39).

We, too, can fall in danger of being needlessly distracted by everyday cares. Everyone has responsibilities that must be done, and God would not have us neglect those obligations to our families, employers, and others. However, we must not give them a higher priority than our relationship with God. He must come first because fellowship with Him is the very purpose for which we were all born.  

My friend had a chance to redeem her failure the next time the play was performed. However, if we do not fulfill the role God has given us in life, the result will be unredeemable tragedy and loss. No matter what we have been doing with our lives until now, we can put it behind us and decide today not to be cumbered with needless distractions. We can choose to focus on the one thing needful to us all—God. Let us choose the good part, and allow nothing to take it away from us.