Written By TWFT
Saturday, April 15
“Few things are needed…Mary has chosen what is better.” Lk 10:42 NIV
When Jesus visited the home of Mary and Martha, their individual responses to Him were very different. Martha’s focus was on the meal. Her aim was to please Jesus. But she made a common mistake; her work became more important than her Lord. What began as a serving experience became a self-serving one. She forgot the meal was to honor Jesus, not her. She said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (v. 40 NIV). And what did Jesus say? “Martha, Martha…you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed…Mary has chosen what is better” (Lk 10:41–42 NIV). And what had Mary chosen? Intimacy with Jesus! The danger of religious activity is that sometimes it’s designed to make us feel good about ourselves and look good in front of others. Choosing activity over intimacy also happens to people who love the Lord and aren’t necessarily involved in church work. It’s amazing how many bright, successful people reach the point of burnout because they have neglected their relationship with God. They never intended to; it’s just that they have learned to make it on their own and haven’t been forced to rely on Him. Or they have bought into a “religious compartmentalization” of God—like He is just another weekly appointment on Sunday mornings. The fact that Jesus chose intimacy over activity teaches us a very important lesson: Until you put your relationship with God at the center of your life, you will struggle to find your true purpose, enjoy the fruit of your labors, and experience God’s peace and joy.
Saturday, April 15
“Few things are needed…Mary has chosen what is better.” Lk 10:42 NIV
When Jesus visited the home of Mary and Martha, their individual responses to Him were very different. Martha’s focus was on the meal. Her aim was to please Jesus. But she made a common mistake; her work became more important than her Lord. What began as a serving experience became a self-serving one. She forgot the meal was to honor Jesus, not her. She said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (v. 40 NIV). And what did Jesus say? “Martha, Martha…you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed…Mary has chosen what is better” (Lk 10:41–42 NIV). And what had Mary chosen? Intimacy with Jesus! The danger of religious activity is that sometimes it’s designed to make us feel good about ourselves and look good in front of others. Choosing activity over intimacy also happens to people who love the Lord and aren’t necessarily involved in church work. It’s amazing how many bright, successful people reach the point of burnout because they have neglected their relationship with God. They never intended to; it’s just that they have learned to make it on their own and haven’t been forced to rely on Him. Or they have bought into a “religious compartmentalization” of God—like He is just another weekly appointment on Sunday mornings. The fact that Jesus chose intimacy over activity teaches us a very important lesson: Until you put your relationship with God at the center of your life, you will struggle to find your true purpose, enjoy the fruit of your labors, and experience God’s peace and joy.
Posted in Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2025
January
START BY FORGIVINGEMBRACING UNCERTAINTY AND FOLLOWING GODBLESSING IS PROGRESSIVEIS GOD SHAKING YOU UP?DON'T AVOID--ENGAGEYOU ARE COMMANDED TO LOVEJUST SOW THE SEEDSEE YOURSELF AS VALUABLE (1)SEE YOURSELF AS VALUABLE (2)PRAY ABOUT IT, THEN TAKE ACTIONTHE IMPORTANCE OF GOD'S WORDTHE LINK BETWEEN DISOBEDIENCE AND STRESSHAVE YOU TALKED TO GOD ABOUT IT?KNOW YOUR PURPOSE, KNOW YOUR PARTNERSHOW GOD SEES YOUBE GUIDED BY WISDOM, NOT IMPULSEPAUSE AND REFLECTWHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT MONEY (1)WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT MONEY (2)WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT MONEY (3)WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT MONEY (4)WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT MONEY (5)SEEKING GOD
February
PRACTICE SAYING NO TO YOURSELFTHE BEST IS YET TO COMETHE GRANDFATHER'S MISTAKE BECAME THE GRANDSON'S MIRACLEHOW TO CONQUER THE FEAR OF FAILINGLET'S RESPECT OUR DIFFERENCESPASS IT ON TO OTHERSKEEP TRUSTING GODFEAR IS THE ENEMY OF GROWTHCHANGE YOUR ROUTINEYOU ARE NOT BEYOND GOD'S REACHDON'T LOOK AT CHRISTIANS, LOOK AT CHRISTUNDERSTANDING THE WORD "IMPUTED"GOVERNED BY CHRIST'S LOVE FOR USTODAY EXCEPT GOD'S FAVORGROWTH IS ABOUT ENLARGEMENTFIND PRAYER PARTNERSKEEP PRAYING AND BELIEVINGREFUSE TO WEAR THE LABELJESUS IS THE ANSWERSHAKE IT OFF, AND MOVE FORWARDWHEN OTHERS "DON'T GET IT"RIGHTEOUSNSS IS A GIFT, NOT A REWARD
March
HOW LONG WILL YOU LIVE?DON'T BREAK, BOUNCE BACK (1)DON'T BREAK, BOUNCE BACK (2)KNOW WHEN TO LET GOPUT AWAY THE MEASURING STICKCONNECT, COMMIT, COMMUNICATEUSE YOUR IMAGINATIONCONSULT GOD ON YOUR DAILY TO-DO LISTBEARING SPIRITUAL FRUITHOW GOD SEES YOUBORN TO BELIEVE (1)BORN TO BELIEVE (2)ONLY JESUS CAN SATISFY YOUR SOULPUT GOD BETWEEN YOURSELF AND THE FOE"FORGIVE THEM" AND DELETE ITBE TRUE TO THE SCRIPTURESTHE KIDS ARE WATCHING YOU (1)THE KIDS ARE WATCHING YOU (2)IF YOU'RE A LEADER, READ THISPRAYER AND YOUR RASLEARN TO SAY NOYOU CAN LEARN TO LOVEALWAYS AGREE WITH GOD'S WORD
April
BECOME WILLING TO CHANGE (1)BECOME WILLING TO CHANGE (2)BECOME WILLING TO CHANGE (3)BECOME WILLING TO CHANGE (4)REJOICE - DAY FORTY-ONE IS COMINGPASTOR, KEEP YOUR SWORD SHARPDON'T BURN OUT (1)DON'T BURN OUT (2)THE WAITING STRATEGYRESOLVE CONFLICT QUICKLY (1)RESOLVE CONFLICT QUICKLY (2)HELP FOR CAREGIVERS
May
TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR MOTHERKNOWING THE SEASON YOU'RE INFAITH IS NOT FAITH UNTIL IT IS ACTED UPONHAVE A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVEFREE FROM JEALOUSYDON'T LOVE YOUR PASSION FOR GODGET ALONE WITH GOD (1)GET ALONE WITH GOD (2)GET ALONE WITH GOD (3)WHO ARE YOU DEPENDING ON?THE SECRET TO SUCCESSHOW TO STAY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT GODDEALING WITH RELATIONSHIP ISSUES (1)DEALING WITH RELATIONSHIP ISSUES (2)COMPASSION BEGINS WITH THE WORD "NOTICE"WHEN GOD ASKS YOU TO GIVEARE YOU IN A STRESS MESS?WHEN YOU FEEL BLAH