Time for What’s Important
“Time is of the essence! If you say that something is of the essence, you mean that it is absolutely necessary in order for a particular action to be successful. Hi. My name is Mary, and my sister’s name is Martha. We have a very good friend, Jesus, who stopped by to eat lunch with us today. We believe with all our hearts that Jesus is the promised Messiah, God’s Son. I must tell you about my day and the lesson I learned about time.
“I saw Him as He bowed His head to walk through our door. Our eyes met and for a moment I stood there, instantly captivated, holding the plates I was to place on the table. He was here in my home—my Savior and Lord—and suddenly setting the table didn’t seem all that important. I put the plates down. ‘Jesus, please recline here.’ He does, and I drop to the floor near His feet.
“These thoughts hurried through my mind and heart: If I don’t take this time at the feet of Jesus now, I will never again have this opportunity. Sure, there will be other days, but not this moment right now—today. I know Martha will be angry with me, but it’s okay. Jesus is here! If I get up and start working the day, I will miss this precious time with Him.
“When He looks at me, His love and peace overwhelm me. When He speaks, His words permeate my heart, go deep, and I am changed. There’s nothing else like this moment in all the world! I can’t miss it. Yes, I will eventually stand up and begin the duties and responsibilities of the day, but right now, it’s just me and Jesus. This is all that truly matters. When I do get up, I will be ready to face the day, strengthened by His love and grace.
“Yes, Martha was frustrated with me for leaving her to do most of the work; but honestly, I believe Jesus would have been just as happy with a sandwich. I think our time together talking and listening was as special to Him as it was to me.”
Time with Jesus is of the essence and absolutely necessary for my day to be successful. Make time in your day for what’s truly important.
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her’” (Luke 10:38-42).