Jesus cares
I’ll advise you and keep my eye on you. ~ Psalm 32:8b (CEB)
Martha had a sister named Mary, who was sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to him teach. ~ Luke 10:39b (NCV)
Lord, you are close to those you care about. You allow them to sit at your feet. You teach them. You advise them. And you watch over them. I can't ask more than that of you. It is enough. It is all I need -- to be loved and cared for in this way by you. I love it that you pay attention to me. Now, I admit that even though you're giving me direction it sometimes goes in one ear and out the other. I'm going to work on paying better attention to you. Thank you for your patience with me. Amen.
Challenging Words
- goes in one ear and out the other -- idiomatic expression for failing to pay attention. Even though you hear what is being said, it does not register in your mind or your heart. You do not do anything about what you are hearing.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
NRSVue = New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (© 2021 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.) NTE = New Testament for Everyone (©2011 Nicolas Thomas Wright.)
REB = Revised English Bible (© 1989 Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press) TCEB = The Casual English Bible (© Stephen M. Miller)