The One Thing

Read The Daily:
“There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” — Luke 10:42

Ever notice how your brain never runs out of things to worry about? What you said last week. What you didn’t finish. What’s coming tomorrow. Our attention gets pulled in every direction, and we start living like peace is something we have to cross off a to-do list. But Jesus tells us something wild: peace doesn’t come from doing more — it comes from choosing the one thing that matters most.

In the story of Mary and Martha, Martha was doing everything “right.” Hosting, prepping, working, trying to impress. Mary? She just sat with Jesus. From the outside, it looked lazy. But Jesus called it wise. Mary wasn’t performing — she was present. And presence, according to Jesus, mattered more than productivity.

Most of us are way more like Martha. We measure our value by how busy we are. If we’re exhausted, we assume we must be doing life right. But the truth is, hustle can distract us from what we need most. Sometimes the bravest thing isn’t pushing harder — it’s slowing down enough to simply be loved.

What would happen if today, instead of chasing ten things to feel fulfilled, you chose the one thing that gives actual rest? Not scrolling. Not grinding. Not proving anything. Just sitting still for five quiet minutes, reminding your heart: I don’t earn love — I receive it.

Prayer for the Day

God what are you  showing me?  What am I going to do about it?
God help me to see one person that I can serve through a kind word, random act of kindness, or simple gift today?
Make sure you complete the reading or comment today.

Read The New Testament In A Year

God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled. A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered. The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect. Acts 19:11-20

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, surrounded by a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face shone like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire. And in his hand was a small scroll that had been opened. He stood with his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. And he gave a great shout like the roar of a lion. And when he shouted, the seven thunders answered. When the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write. But I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Keep secret what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down.” Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand toward heaven. He swore an oath in the name of the one who lives forever and ever, who created the heavens and everything in them, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it. He said, “There will be no more delay. When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God’s mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as he announced it to his servants the prophets.” Then the voice from heaven spoke to me again: “Go and take the open scroll from the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” So I went to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. “Yes, take it and eat it,” he said. “It will be sweet as honey in your mouth, but it will turn sour in your stomach!” So I took the small scroll from the hand of the angel, and I ate it! It was sweet in my mouth, but when I swallowed it, it turned sour in my stomach. Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.” Revelation 10:1-11

Read More – Bible Project Overviews: Acts, Revelation