Good morning and a blessed Thursday morning to you.

Priorities. All of us have to prioritize, don't we? Priorities are those things which come before. Everything flows out of our priorities. I want us to consider this question this morning. What is the number one priority for us? 

In the Gospel of Luke the 10th chapter we see a story involving Mary and Martha. 

38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying.

That phrase there, that she “sat at the Lord’s feet” is quite a radical statement. Because in ancient day the women were prohibited from sitting at the feet of the rabbi. In order to listen to a rabbi, they would have to go to the back or they would have to sit in the women's section. But here was Mary beautifully sitting at the feet of our Lord.

40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks;

The word there translated “distracted” means to be pulled away into other things. So you see the picture there. Martha is busy with all of the tasks. There's a dinner to prepared, a table to be set. Perhaps there are linens to be put out, and towels that need to be changed. And there is Martha, working away, and Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus. Different priorities, right? Martha has prioritized serving, and Mary his prioritized being served by the Word. 

Well, Martha just can't stand it. 

so she came to him and asked, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.’

At some point Martha had come to understand Jesus is Lord. When she asked the Lord, “Don't you care?”... that's a fascinating question, isn't it? She's talking to God in the flesh. She is talking to the one that Luke records the parable of the Good Samaritan, of this expression of service and mercy and care, just before this event here… and saying “don't you care?” 

Scripture tells us in 1 Peter 5:7…

Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.

Psalm 144:3

O Lord, what are human beings that you care for them,

A grace-filled word! 

Look please at Luke 10:41-42.

41 But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42 there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.’

The one thing. The most important thing. Priority number one: to receive, to listen, to study the Word of God. Out of that one thing flows everything else. Priority number one.

The Lord Jesus Christ has gone to the cross for us. He's paid the debt of our sin. The tomb is empty. God's grace flows to us, as he calls us his own in the waters of baptism; calling us his children. And he calls us to continually listen to the Word, because it's out of the Word, out of priority number one, that everything else flows, including our service. 

Let’s pray. Gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for this time in your Word. Your Word is truth. We give you thanks, oh Lord, that you call us and you empower us to live out priority number one… to receive your Word. For it is out of that priority that everything flows. Out of receiving your Word comes everything, including our service. And so Father, lead us faithfully to your Word.  Feed us and send us forth as your servants. Thank you Lord for priority number one! In Jesus’ Holy name we pray. Amen.

May God bless you this week. Encourage someone.

Pastor Eibel