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It Will Not Be Taken Away

Busy woman trying to work while babysitting two kids

By Nicole Kerr 

Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” 

But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details. There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her” (emphasis mine).  

I think we are all thankful to have put 2020 behind us and to start a new year fresh with possibilities. Many of us have made resolutions about what we would like to change for 2021. But no matter what year it is, when February ends most of those resolutions have already taken a backseat to the habits that come more naturally. At our best our resolutions become another item on a to-do list; we reward ourselves with a pat on the back when it’s accomplished but don’t lose any sleep if it stays unfinished. Or as 2020 has shown us, sometimes life throws us one curve ball after another, and no matter what our best intentions are, it just isn’t happening this year.  

Unfortunately, sometimes our relationship with GOD can be like one of those resolutions that will get a month’s worth of attention before the snooze button gets rediscovered and dust starts to collect once again on our Bibles. Praying and reading Scripture gets added to our to-do list, but more pressing tasks begin to worm their way in, and God gets a Sunday checkmark instead of our daily commitment.   

Many resolutions have to do with the flesh. Losing weight, eating right, exercising, saving money, and getting out of debt are all good things, but their impact is here today and gone tomorrow. Investing in our relationship with God? That is eternal. 

In Luke 10:39-42 (NLT) we get a glimpse at where our priorities should be:  

Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” 

But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details. There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her” (emphasis mine).  

Martha was worried about preparing dinner for Jesus. She was in the presence of the man that fed a crowd of over 5,000 people with a boy’s lunch, and she was concerned about cooking Him dinner. Or doing the never-ending dishes. Or getting something done that she volunteered for even though she knew she already had a full schedule … or maybe that’s just me. 

Mary recognized the gift that was right there in her living room, so she stopped checking off her “to-dos” and sat at Jesus’ feet. Those moments at His feet are important. They aren’t “wasted time.” As we spend more and more time with God, we will see our priorities shift. 

We should be seeking God’s presence throughout the whole day, not just the first or last hour of it. And sometimes that even means worshiping Him while doing the dishes. The dishes will pile back up, those lost five to ten pounds are likely to reappear, but seeking God in the everyday moments instead of trying to fit Him in on a list or make Him a resolution, that will have eternal impact. 

There is only one thing worth being concerned about, and when you discover it, it will not be taken away from you.

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