Luke 10:38-42 NLT
“ As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” ”
This is a short story that taught me something huge that I needed to learn.
Martha and Mary, sisters with very different views and priorities. Martha was focused on the “things” that she could do for Jesus. She wanted everything to look nice and put together to receive Jesus in her home and provide him a meal. She was kind of “striving to impress him” in a way. While she was preparing, she asked Jesus “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”
In other words, “Jesus look at what I’m doing for you while Mary just sits and does nothing! Aren’t you going to tell her to help me?“
The Lord did not respond the way Martha was probably expecting.
He says “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
This response reveals to us the most important priority Jesus has for us in our walk with Christ. Relationship with him. Communion with him. He didn’t discredit the things Martha was doing for him. But he basically told her that she had the wrong focus. It’s easy for us to look at all of the things we can do for Jesus. We can very easily get caught up in the things we can do for ourselves to “better” our lives.
We focus on “being a good person” and “reflecting the character of Jesus”. When we don’t even take the time to LEARN his character. The reality is, he just wants us to sit at his feet. Listening and learning his character. The heart and personality change happens AFTER you sit with Jesus. Learning his character and love. Striving for perfection is not the calling Jesus gives us. I’m not in anyway discrediting “good deeds”. But, if you do good works, and you don’t know the heart of Christ you’ve done it all wrong. Jesus calls us as we are, not who we strive to be. The message I take away from the story is: We have a choice.
We can spend our lives doing good works, striving for perfection out of our own abilities. OR. We can humbly sit at the feet of Jesus receiving direction and pursuing relationship with our creator. The “works” or good deeds we do should come from time spent learning His heart. Being in relationship with Him. Sitting quietly and receiving HIS direction. NOT from doing things in our own strength with the Lords name attached.
Jesus makes it clear in this passage that He simply wants us to sit at His feet listening to what He has to say, He is a relational God. He wants YOU. He wants to speak to you and He wants you to have a relationship with Him on an intimate level. Make time to sit at His feet.
Practical advice:
-Open your Bible. This is how you will become familiar with the voice of God, His character and His will. -> A very easy way to “sit” and listen to His teachings.
-Setting a timer. It’s hard to just STOP and listen. ASK AND LISTEN. Set a 1 minute timer to just LISTEN to the Lord. (You might hear nothing and that’s okay. Steps of obedience are important.)
Prayer:
“Dear Jesus, thank you for wanting a relationship with me. Thank you for being a loving father who wants connection with His children. Thank you that all I have to do is sit and seek you for you to speak. Help me understand your heart. Reveal your character to me. Open my eyes to see you and my ears to hear you. Lord help me find time or help me make time to rest, sitting at your feet. Amen.”
Reflection:
Here’s some questions you can ask God and listen for His answers.
-“God what do you have for me?”
-“What do you want to teach me?”
-“What do you want me to receive?”
-“What do you want me to surrender?”
-“What do you say about ______?”
Verses:
John 15:5
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Revelation 3:20
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
James 4:8
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
Jeremiah 29:13
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Definitions:
Communion – the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a spiritual level.
Striving – working hard to obtain or achieve something.
