Day 6 — Busy Doing Good, but Losing Sight of Jesus
The Quiet Ways We Drift
Luke 10:38–42
By the time the first song started, Elaine had already made coffee, set out the bulletins, and found a box of crayons for a little boy who wanted to color.
She liked being the person who knew where things were. And most Sundays, she was glad to help.
That morning, she slipped into the back row, then spotted a stack of cups someone had left on the windowsill. She carried them to the kitchen. While she was there, she noticed the coffee was running low.
By the time she sat down again, the sermon was nearly over.
On the drive home, her husband asked what she thought about the passage they had read.
“Which passage?” she asked.
He told her, and she realized she couldn’t remember the last Sunday she had stayed in her seat long enough to listen to a whole sermon. There was usually something she could straighten, refill, or get ready for later. Some of it mattered. The cups on the windowsill could have waited.
That afternoon, Elaine opened her Bible to the passage her husband had mentioned. She read slowly. Halfway through, she remembered she still needed to text someone about next week’s coffee schedule.
She left her phone on the counter and kept reading.
The next Sunday, she asked another volunteer to share the kitchen duties. When the Scripture reading began, she was in her seat. She could still think of things that needed doing. For now, she opened her Bible and listened.
Scripture
Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
— Luke 10:38–42, NASB 1995
Martha welcomed Jesus into her home. Yet the preparations took so much of her attention that she grew frustrated with Mary for sitting and listening. Jesus spoke directly to Martha’s worry and commended Mary for giving His words her attention.
We can lose sight of Jesus in much the same way. There’s always another task we could do, especially when people count on us. But the One we serve is also the One we need to hear.
Jesus died for our sins and rose again. We receive forgiveness through faith in Him, and our service grows out of gratitude for His grace.
Sometimes that means sharing a responsibility so we can hear Scripture with the church. At home, it may mean letting a chore wait while we read His Word. Then we can return to the work with what He has taught us in mind.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for the people I get to serve. Forgive me for letting the work take so much of my attention that I lose sight of You. Help me listen to Your Word and serve with a heart that depends on You. Amen.