Today's reading

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.” –Luke 10:41-42 NLT

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DAY 198: Bible Duo – Martha and Mary

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.” –Luke 10:41-42 NLT

Today, we’ll be closing our Bible duo series with Martha and Mary. When Jesus came to their home to dine, Mary quietly sat at His feet, listening to what He taught; whereas Martha was frustrated and distracted by the dinner preparations.Frustrated that Mary wasn’t helping, Martha said to Jesus, “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” (Luke 10:40 NLT). Jesus responded, “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” (Luke 10:41-42 NLT).Here are a few things we can learn from this scenario. First, it’s good for us to have a Mary heart that seeks to draw close to the Lord and listen to what He has to say. Second, after spending time with Jesus, it’s fitting to have Martha hands that seek to serve and tend to daily responsibilities, and other occurrences, with a merry heart. Third, God wants us to daily make Him our #1 priority by drawing near to Him. Then He’ll send us out to serve.

prayer focuses

Lord, pardon me for the times I’ve sought to busily serve You above quietly worshipping You.

Help me have a Mary heart! Holy Spirit, help me to be mindful to keep God first and my to-do list second. Help me have Martha hands that serve others!

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about the

Author

Barbara Alpert

Barbara was a wife, mother, and grandma who sought to love the LORD with all her heart, soul & strength. She has authored several books for adults and children. She has enjoyed mentoring other writers and seeing them turn their manuscripts into published masterpieces for God's glory. She believed that every person has a God-story within them to be told and shared. Barbara passed away peacefully in November 2023, but Bayside continues to remember and honor her legacy by sharing devotionals written by her in order to inspire and encourage others.