But only one thing is needed. (Luke 10:42)
Today, my prayer for each of us is that our burden, personal or professional, be too heavy to carry. Yes, that’s right, I said too heavy! So heavy that it makes us groan for relief. So heavy that our brow sweats and our back screams and we begin to wonder out loud what God is doing. I pray that as the weight increases it forces us on our knees and bends us closer to the ground so that we would remember our Creator who made us out of dust and breathed His Spirit into our lungs. I pray we would remember that no day can be fully lived without Him and that we would get honest with ourselves. This work of loving kids, parents, fellow workers and volunteers was not given to us to command or master; it was His gift, His way of allowing us to share the love we have for Him with others. I pray that we would daily place that burden where it belongs, on our Jesus and get back to the one thing that is needed.
Maybe you are already there, and if so I am incredibly jealous. If you are anything like me, you constantly struggle with the balance of your relationship with Jesus and the duties at hand. We tend to focus all our energy on succeeding and mastering the completion of our duties. We consider our ministry our own and we want to control its every detail. We need to get to the point where it is out of our control or ability to correct, in order to see that it is Gods ministry and we finally surrender it to Him. Our personal relationship with Christ needs to be our primary focus.
Wasn’t it something in His life, His love for us that made us want to serve others in the first place? Wasn’t it understanding His grace and sacrifice that made us energetic for seeking lost souls, teaching young children and patiently working with our energetic teenagers? Too often service becomes business. This is my job! This is my responsibility! If I don’t do this, then no one will! As if God would let His church die if we weren’t there to keep everyone on task.
A familiar Bible story hit home for me a week ago. Jesus goes to the home of Mary and Martha to visit. Mary immediately takes her place at the feet of Jesus devouring every word from His mouth. I mean wouldn’t you? It’s Jesus! He heals the sick, commands evil spirits, makes the dead rise and puts false teachers in their place! Wouldn’t we want to sit and listen? But do we listen? Jesus had this to say to Martha, “You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).
So often we allow our world and ourselves to create false responsibilities and needs. God means to fill us with love so we can pour out love, but do we allow ourselves be filled?
It is my prayer that we don’t misplace the one thing that is needed and each day lay at the feet of our Master and just be in His presence. Let Him figure out the details, I hear He’s pretty good at that. For indeed our Maker, our Master, our Redeemer knows best, loves best and is our best guide to the work we are to be doing! Join me at the feet of our LORD and let us continually hand our burdens over to Him, for He is the one thing that is needed.
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