LUKE 10:38–42 – Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

THEME OF THE DAY. SIMPLIFYING OUR LIVES. Today’s scripture is the classic text on busyness. Thousands of sermons have been preached on the danger of being a busy Martha, neglecting to be “Mary-like” and forfeiting intimacy with the Lord Jesus. However, today’s nugget isn’t about busyness. Well, maybe a little bit. I want us to think not about our busy lives, but simplifying our lives. This applies to all of us; the head of the home who works incredible hours, the noble call of a stay at home mon raising her children, other vocational callings upon us, as well as the student working multiple jobs while taking classes. The simplified life is for all of us because God has ordained we live a simple life. That doesn’t mean neglect responsibilities, but it does mean establish and maintain priorities; simple priorities that God gives us in living out our daily lives. Should we interpret and live our lives under the control of these, we will know more joy, less stress; more peace, less worry. And both simple priorities are found in Jesus’ High Priestly prayer found in the Gospel of John.

Our Lord opened His prayer with these words, “When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:1-3). As Jesus prays, notice the repeated words and themes. These are to be the two simple priorities in our lives.

First, the word “glorify”. This is not only a theme in His prayer, but defines His life. Our Lord lived, died, and rose from the dead for the glory of His Father. Everything He did, taught, and spoke had one goal; to glorify His Father. That serves as a model for us. We are created for and then saved for, the glory of God. Let that be our chief objective in all we do and say. Parent for God’s glory. Live out our marriages for God’s glory. Work in our vocations for God’s glory. Basically, from sunrise to sunset, strive to keep life simplified under the privilege of doing all things for His glory. Start doing this, and joy will come in abundance.

The second theme in our Lord’s praying is found in the repeated words “eternal life.” And Jesus defines it, not in duration of life, but in the indescribable privilege of knowing God. Now let that sink in. We may know God. Not about Him, but know Him in a personal and real relationship. How does that occur? Three ways – His Word, prayer, and His church. Friends, if we simplify life around glorifying and knowing God, we will make time for His Word, prayer and church. It may not be extended time of many hours but it will be quality time of regularly seeking Him. And if we make knowing God a simple priority in life, we will start “seeing” Him in every place we go and all the things we encounter. We will see His handiwork in nature; in other people being image-bearers of Him, and in situations where God has intervened with His care, provision, and protection in our lives. In other words, the more we live with a spiritual outlook – doing all things for His glory, and seeking to know Him more and more each day, the simpler our lives will become. And that will produce lives of sustained joy and happiness as we learn to live a simplified life under the direction of God’s simple priorities; glorifying and knowing Him.

PRAYER: “Father, help me to simplify my life be seeing You in all things and make knowing You the highest priority in my life.”

QUOTE: “Sin, Satan, and self make life complex, not God. He is the Author of order not chaos.”