Scripture:
Luke 10:38-42
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Arguably, all of us could fit into Martha’s situation, where we have allowed the things of life to distract us from what is most important. Luke uses the Greek word periespato (περιεσπᾶτο), meaning “to be pulled or dragged in different directions; to be driven about.” Does the idea of a tug-of-war going on in your life, with things bidding and pulling for your attention, sound familiar? See, Martha wasn’t just busy; her attention was being battled for. She was being tugged away by many things, but Jesus says only one thing is important, and Mary chose it.

Q: What has your attention?
Q: What is your present tug-of-war? Is it work? Finances? Worry?

Today our God-Shot is to evaluate and examine what things have taken priority in our lives over our time—get this—with Him. Notice how Jesus gently redirects Martha’s attention. In a loving way, He repeats her name, “Martha, Martha,” even as she is annoyed with her sister for not helping. Today, where is Jesus gently tugging at your coat, drawing your attention back to Him? Maybe it is time to set aside all the anxiety and the tugs of the world and simply sit at His feet.

Father, thank You for this gentle reminder of how easily our attention can be misfocused, distracted, and tugged away by stuff rather than by what is most important: worship, prayer, time with You, Your Word, Your presence, and hearing from You. There always seems to be enough time for the things that try to pull us away, but not nearly enough time at Your feet. Lord, let us be there, and let us be transformed by it. In Jesus’ name, amen!