(Gn.18:1-10a; Ps.15:1-5; Col.1:24-28; Lk.10:38-42) "There is need of only one thing." Whether we teach or whether we serve, all must be done in the Name of the Lord. If it is not sitting at His feet that we do all things, if all is not a prayer offered in His Name, to His glory, it is all quite worthless. How "anxious and concerned about many things" we often are. How like Martha we often struggle under the burden of our duties without a proper heart for service. And so how often, in the words of our psalm, we are like one who "takes up a reproach against his neighbor." How like Martha we fail to be as one who "honors those who fear the Lord," even if that holy one is our sister. Jesus is at work there in her midst, in the words of Paul, "teaching everyone with all wisdom," but Martha cannot stop to hear His words, and would take the word from her sister's heart. And so the Lord must be put to work, performing the other task Paul outlines, that of "admonishing everyone." Can she really think that the passing needs of the body take precedence over the eternal need of the soul? Brothers and sisters, we are no less ignorant of the presence of Christ in our midst; we are no less ignorant of His Word speaking to our souls when we rush through our daily tasks – be they to teach or to serve – as if we are on some nonstop treadmill which is beyond our control. Each day and at every moment, the Lord calls to us, and each day and at every moment we must listen. With His Name written clearly upon our hearts we should act, and not otherwise. We must think and say with Paul, "I am a minister in accordance with God's stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God," whether we bring forth that Word by word or by action. Again, if we do not listen to His voice, if it is not this that moves us, that animates our work, all our afflictions are useless, for they are not united to the cross of Christ. Let us take Abraham as our example. He greets the Lord as He comes to him. He rushes about to prepare Him a meal and care for His needs. Indeed, "he waited on them under the tree while they ate." But he did all of this with a prayer in his heart; he performed all his diligent service out of love for Him whom he served. He could see clearly it was God he waited upon, and so all his frantic work was no burden; he found only joy to be in the presence of His God. So must be our attitude in all we do, brothers and sisters. It cannot be otherwise. All we do must be done for Him; we must ever keep His presence in our hearts, and with this one needful thing fixed firmly within us, all of our lives will be blessed. And we, too, will be holy. We, too, will be made whole by the power of His Word at work within us. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Breathing for a Living" from Breath, The Apple Rises, fifth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, help us remember it is in serving you we find our hope for glory. YHWH, let all our work be done for you, all we suffer be for the sake of your Body, and we shall not grow weary in serving you but rejoice that you are in our midst. You come to us, dear God, you sit among us calling us by your presence and by the words of your Son and His disciples to make known the riches of your glory to all souls to whom we come. O let us give witness to our love for you in all we do this day! Should we not treasure your presence with us and the work we are blessed to do for you? Should it not be our great glory that we may feed you, O LORD and God, by our own hands? What grace you give us in letting us serve you and one another – what joy we should take in thus doing your will, in putting flesh to your Word… in becoming as Jesus! O LORD, let all our afflictions be endured with your Son under His Cross, and we shall be fruitful in your sight and remain forever in your presence.