September 5 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Luke 10:30-42:

³⁰And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
³¹And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
³²And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
³³But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
³⁴And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
³⁵And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
³⁶Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
³⁷And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
³⁸Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
³⁹And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
⁴⁰But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
⁴¹And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
⁴²But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Devotional

Jesus was at the home of Martha. Her sister Mary also was there. "Martha was cumbered about much serving." She was burdened with care, that Jesus might be properly entertained. Mary "sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word." When Martha complained that Mary did not help her, Jesus said, "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

Do we not all know what the "many things" are with which we are busy, and which cause us care and worry? They are outward things. They may not be wrong in themselves; but they crowd out the "one thing needful."

And what is that one thing needful? Well, what was Mary doing? She was listening to the word of God, which Jesus was proclaiming. Is not that all important? the one thing really needful? We may have all things the world can offer, but if we have not the Word of God, and believe it, we must perish. Moses told the Israelites, that the word of God was not a vain thing for them, but it was their life. The Old Testament saints realized this. David writes: "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord." There he could delight himself in the word of God. And again, "For with thee is the fountain of life." And yet again: "We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house." May God enable us to say with the prophet of old: "Thy word was (is) unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts."

Prayer

O Lord God, help us to realize that Thy Word is the one thing needful unto our salvation. Teach us Thy truth. Enlighten the eyes of our understanding, that we may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints; and what is the exceeding great­ness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised him from the dead. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Luke 10:39-42; Deut. 32:47; Ps. 27:4; 36:9; 65:4; Jer. 15:16.

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