Let this little sentence be continually before the eyes of our minds!

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(J.C. Ryle)

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things--but only one thing is needed!" Luke 10:41-42

Let us observe what a solemn rebuke our Lord Jesus Christ gave to His servant Martha. Like a wise physician--He saw the disease which was preying upon her, and at once applied the remedy. Like a tender parent--He exposed the fault into which His erring child had fallen, and did not spare the chastening which was required.

"Martha, Martha," He said, "you are worried and upset about many things--but only one thing is needed!" Faithful are the wounds of a friend! That little sentence was a precious balm indeed! It contained a volume of practical divinity in a few words!

"Only one thing is needed!" How true that saying! The longer we live in the world, the more true it will appear. The nearer we come to the grave, the more thoroughly we shall assent to it. Health, and money, and lands, and rank, and honors, and prosperity, are all well in their way. But they cannot be called needful. Without them thousands are happy in this world, and reach glory in the world to come. The "many things" which men and women are continually struggling for, are not really necessities. The grace of God which brings salvation, is the one thing needful.

Let this little sentence be continually before the eyes of our minds!

Let it check us when we are ready to murmur at earthly trials.

Let it strengthen us when we are tempted to deny our Master on account of persecution.

Let it caution us when we begin to think too much of the things of this world.

Let it quicken us when we are disposed to look back, like Lot's wife.

In all such seasons, let the words of our Lord ring in our ears like a trumpet, and bring us to a right mind! "Only one thing is needed!"

If Christ is ours--then we have all and abound!

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