This morning I was reading in Acts 6. I didn't get far before the Lord stopped me. The beginning of this chapter deals with setting up church leadership... but there is a phrase in verse 4 that jumped out at me and applies even not only to church leadership, but also to our day to day lives.
"give attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word."
Isn't this what the Lord wants each of us to do? To give attention... make time... priority time... to pray and be in the Word and pour the Word into others?
I am busy... as most everyone of you are too... and if I am not careful, the busyness of my life takes over and causes me to either not give attention to prayer and the Word or to do so rapidly as if to get it done and off my to-do list for the day... a task, not a delight. As I pondered this phrase, I was taken back to a familiar story in Luke 10. Jesus has come to the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Martha is rushing about making sure everything is done... not bad things.. things that need to be dealt with, but that don't have to take priority right then.... they will still be there to do once Jesus has left the house. Mary, on the other hand, has stopped all her activity and is sitting at the feet of Jesus taking in all He says (Luke 10:39). Martha continues to work and work and get more frazzled as she has a pity party in her mind about all she is doing and all Mary is not. She decides to make Jesus aware of the injustice of the situation, but is, no doubt, taken back by His reply:
"Martha, 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)
Today, I want to choose what is better... I want to give attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word. I pray to have ears that hear and a heart that responds to whatever the Lord calls me to. I want to be a sheep that knows the Shepherd's voice and responds when He calls.
What will you choose today?
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