OUR DAILY BREAD : THE GREATEST THING

[cimi]

SUNDAY JUNE 7


THE GREATEST THING

READ:
LUKE 10:39
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Mary...sat at
Jesus' feet and
heard His word.
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During a church service I spotted an infant several rows ahead. As the baby peeked over his father's shoulder, his eyes were wide with wonder as he looked at the members of the congregation. He grinned at some people, drooled, and chewed his chunky fingers, but never quite found his thumb. The pastor's words grew distant as my eyes kept sliding back to that sweet baby.

Distractions come in all shapes and sizes. For Martha, distraction took the form of cooking and cleaning__trying to serve Christ instead of listening to him and talking with Him. Mary refused to be sidetracked. "Mary...sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word" (LUKE 10:39). When Martha grumbled because Mary wasn't helping her, Jesus said, "Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" (v2 NIV).

Jesus' words remind us that our relationship with Him is more important than any of the good things that might temporarily capture our attention. It has been said that good things are the enemies of great things. For followers of Jesus, the greatest thing in this life is to know him and to walk with Him. __JENNIFER BENSON SCHULDT

** What do you think Martha's distractions were? Was she wanting to be
seen as a good host? Or was she jealous of her sister? What attitudes
cause you not to make Jesus your top priority?
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Teach me, Lord, to get to know You, for that's when I'll learn to love You
more than anything.

***************************************Today's Bible Reading __ Luke 10:38-42************************************
38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain
village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed
Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary,
who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. 40 But
Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached
him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me
to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me."

41 And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you
are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing
is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not
be taken away from her."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
The "certain village" mentioned in Luke 10:38
is Bethany, a small village on the eastern slopes of the Mount of
Olives (MARK 11:1), about 2 miles from Jerusalem (JOHN 11:18). It was
home to three siblings, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus (LUKE 10:38;
JOHN 11), and Jesus probably stayed at their home when He was
in Jerusalem (MATT. 21:17; 26:6 MARK 11:11); 14:3; JOHN 11:1; 12:1). Bethany
was where Lazarus was raised from the dead (JOHN 11) and where
Simon the leper held a feast to honor Jesus (MARK 14:3). It is also
where Mary anointed Jesus with an expensive perfume to prepare
Him for His death (vv. 3-8). Jesus' ascension, it is believed, also took
place in Bethany (LUKE 24:50-52