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(Gn.18:1-10a;\xa0\xa0 Ps.15:1-5;\xa0\xa0 Col.1:24-28;\xa0\xa0 Lk.10:38-42)\xa0 \u201cThere is need of only one thing.\u201d Whether we teach or whether we serve, all must be done in the Name of the Lord.\xa0 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 \u201canxious and concerned about many things\u201d we often are.\xa0 How like Martha we often struggle under the burden of our duties without a proper heart for service.\xa0 And so how often, in the words of our psalm, we are like one who \u201ctakes up a reproach against his neighbor.\u201d\xa0 How like Martha we fail to be as one who \u201chonors those who fear the Lord,\u201d even if that holy one is our sister.\xa0 Jesus is at work there in her midst, in the words of Paul, \u201cteaching everyone with all wisdom,\u201d but Martha cannot stop to hear His words, and would take the word from her sister\u2019s heart.\xa0 And so the Lord must be put to work, performing the other task Paul outlines, that of \u201cadmonishing everyone.\u201d\xa0 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 \u2013 be they to teach or to serve \u2013 as if we are on some nonstop treadmill which is beyond our control.\xa0 Each day and at every moment, the Lord calls to us, and each day and at every moment we must listen.\xa0 With His Name written clearly upon our hearts we should act, and not otherwise.\xa0 We must think and say with Paul, \u201cI am a minister in accordance with God\u2019s stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God,\u201d whether we bring forth that Word by word or by action.\xa0 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.\xa0 Let us take Abraham as our example.\xa0 He greets the Lord as He comes to him.\xa0 He rushes about to prepare Him a meal and care for His needs.\xa0 Indeed, \u201che waited on them under the tree while they ate.\u201d\xa0 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.\xa0 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.\xa0 So must be our attitude in all we do, brothers and sisters.\xa0 It cannot be otherwise.\xa0 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.\xa0 And we, too, will be holy.\xa0 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.\xa0 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?\xa0 Should it not be our great glory that we may feed you, O LORD and God, by our own hands?\xa0 What grace you give us in letting us serve you and one another \u2013 what joy we should take in thus doing your will, in putting flesh to your Word\u2026 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.