Guest blogger: Dawn Levene - The good portion

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 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.” (Luke 10:38–42, ESV)

As I approached the new year, I was reading the story in Luke 10:38-42 about Martha, Mary and Jesus. The part that stood out for me was Jesus's response to Martha when she was complaining to Him about Mary not helping her in the kitchen. Jesus said, “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” (Luke 10:41-42).

Jesus’ response makes me wonder if we are making time and space for God to fill the room in our hearts. It always amazes me how Jesus can fill us with exactly what we need. I believe that this story in Luke 10 encapsulates God’s longing for a relationship with us, His children.

As one year ends and a new one begins, I pray that this story will set a fire in our hearts to live out of an unhindered union with our Heavenly Father. May we seek to always make space in our lives for the “good portion,” as Jesus put it. May our days be marked by choosing to sit at Jesus's feet, rather than living a life based solely on works. May we seek a relationship with God above all else and give Him our heart in and out of season. What would it look like if our chief new year resolution was to make space in our lives for God to fill?

Take time to reflect on what truly matters. Meditate on what Jesus meant when He said that spending time with Him was “the good portion,” and take time to choose “the good portion” in your life.

What will be first this year? Will activity replace intimacy with God, or will our activity flow from our intimacy with Him? Take time to make space for God to center your focus on Him.
Rest in the nearness of God. Choose stillness. If we center our lives around abiding in God, our year will be filled with Heavenly and eternal impact, and whatever we do this year will yield lasting fruit. As Jesus said in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Lord, as we step into the New Year, help us to choose what is better. Quiet our anxious hearts, reorder our priorities, and draw us to your feet. May our lives be shaped not by hurry, but by your presence. Amen.