WORD: OC's 60-Day New Testament PlanSample

Only One Thing is Needed The story of Mary and Martha has always made me cringe just a little. Mostly because I sympathize with Martha. She was working hard. She had every good intention in the world. For goodness sake, someone had to feed Jesus some dinner! But Jesus wasn’t all that impressed with her. Listen to what he told Martha: He said, “Martha, Martha you are worried and upset about many things but only one thing is needed. Mary had chosen what is better and it will not be taken from her.” How interesting that He said only one thing is needed. You have to imagine that He was hungry. He was a man, yes, but He was also God in the flesh so He had to have known how much work it took to prepare a meal in those days. But He didn’t seem concerned at all about his dinner. He was much more concerned about having intentional relationships with the people around Him. So what would happen if we replaced the rules we have for ourselves with relationship? Personally, I think I could learn to have peace in the midst of the chaos that is my life at any given moment. It seems like I am always waiting for the perfect circumstances to have peace. When the kids are tucked into their beds, when the house is perfectly clean, when I have exercised, had my quiet time, conversed with my husband, and taken a bubble bath then I will feel peace. Well, I need to get real. That’s just never going to happen. If I consciously choose to live in grace I can feel peace when the dishes are dirty, when the kids are screaming and the husband is in a foul mood. I can have peace when money is tight. The research paper is due, and the kids are sick. That idea doesn’t come easy to very many people that I know. Mary actually got it. And I am determined to get it too. Written By Summer Lashley Staff Member, Oklahoma Christian University