Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Tuesday after the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday

Posted on September 14, 2021 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: St. Luke 10:38-42 (NKJV)
 
10:38 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.”
 
Devotion
 
As yesterday’s text from Deuteronomy revealed a ‘never fall into disobedience to God’s Law’ understanding, today’s text reveals one of the ends of the spectrum that one can fall into when it comes to that Law. Namely, it shows the error of thinking that it’s all about works (or service) and believing that you are completing it! The other end of the spectrum is total despair and believing that there is no hope at all!
 
Man’s flesh can easily get “distracted with much serving”—attempting to merit worth in the eyes of the world, along with a belief that such service merits another way into heaven. Christ reveals that “one thing is needed” first, and it is no surprise about that to which He points—for Mary had “sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.” As Jesus said, “Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
 
God brings the New Man in you to choose the good part as well—calling you by the Gospel, enlightening you with His gifts, sanctifying and keeping you in the true faith. He calls, gathers, enlightens, sanctifies, and keeps the whole Christian Church with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. As you receive God’s ministry of Word and Sacrament, rejoice for you are sitting at the feet of Jesus and hearing His Words. Christ’s fully atoning merits are always the good part!
 
Prayer: O Lord, we beseech Thee, let Thy continual pity cleanse and defend Thy Church; and because it cannot continue in safety without Thy succor, preserve it evermore by Thy help and goodness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end.
 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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