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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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