July 15

by Chrissy Davis

Luke 10:38-42 - ONE THING IS NEEDED

Theme: Devotion - to sit at the feet of Jesus

Luke 10:38-42

“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Mary chose to sit at Jesus’s feet and listened to him when he came to her home. Martha chose to take care of her todo lists, what she felt was most important, and what had to be done. Martha felt bitterness towards Mary for not doing what Martha thought was the right thing. Martha also chose to tell Jesus about her frustration. Jesus leads Martha by telling her that Mary used her time in the better way.

When we first read this story it can be easy to judge Martha’s action and think that we would never do that. However we are guilty just like Martha of putting “things” before sitting at the feet of Jesus all the time.

List out what things you spend the most time doing:

• ___________________________
• ___________________________
• ___________________________
• ___________________________

We do these things because we believe they will bring us satisfaction, happiness, success, popularity, and friendship. Jesus wants to give us something far better. Jesus is known as the water of life. When we search out things we think to be more satisfying we are often left wanting more.

At the beginning of the stay at home season in March, I really struggled to see how I would survive or thrive without being able to see my friends, without knowing exactly what my job was going to look like and with the ever present feeling of being stuck. I know many of you can relate to these feelings. I had built up all these things, good things, that I thought brought my life satisfaction and meaning to my life.

It is easy as a Jesus follower to think that doing things for Jesus is what matters most. Yes our actions are powerful, yes faith without works is dead. AND trying to do things for Jesus without being connected to Jesus is dangerous.

If you find yourself annoyed when you are asked to do something like attend church or a small group. Inconvenienced when encouraged to serve someone else around you by cleaning up their mess or working hard while they sit by and watch, there is a good chance that you are disconnected from Jesus the source of satisfaction.

So what should we do? We should realign our hearts with Jesus. Let’s stop trying to do things for Jesus without sitting at the feet of Jesus. This week on as we do our mission for each day, first choose to sit at the feet of Jesus.

Connect with him by:

1. Waking up and spending time praying for his spirit to align your day for what God has for you. Each day is a gift from God and he has a plan for each of us everyday. One where we connect with him and walk with him.
2. Reflect on how Jesus has worked in your life. Remember that he saved you while you were at your lowest point. Remind yourself the truth that Jesus sees you as valuable, important and his prize. Remember that Jesus chose to die a murders death so that you could live a freemans life. Allow Jesus to fill up your need for love, connection, and friendship first.
3. Ask God to search your heart. Confess anything in you that is not God’s best for you. Maybe you have unforgiveness in your heart towards someone, choose to give that to God. Whatever it is confess it to God and ask him to lead you in his ways for you.

Matthew 11: 28-30 in The Message Bible says “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

When we start to feel heavy, burdened, tired and worn out, allow it to propel you not to more work, but to more sitting at the feet of Jesus. It is what satisfies our souls and allows us to reflect Jesus to the world around us. You can’t run on an empty tank of gas for very long.

In Mark chapter 6:30-32, we find Jesus inviting his disciples to go away and rest with him. Let’s read it together, “30 The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. 31 Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. 32 So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone.”

Jesus recognizes that we need to have rest in our schedules daily to be able to care for those around us. True rest is found in coming near Jesus and giving him our burdens. Your challenge today is to invite someone to rest in Jesus with you. Call one of your closest friends, or a small group leader, or sibling, or neighbor, sit together over the phone or in person, and pray for each other. Start by reading the verse above out loud. Next ask what is wearing heavy on the other person’s heart. Listen closely and then pray that Jesus would walk with them in the situation and that Jesus would give them true rest. Then do the same for yourself. What is wearing heavy on your heart? Pray and ask Jesus to be near to you in that situation and remind yourself that he is more than powerful enough to carry the burden for you and to provide for you.

To take this one step further, text someone in your life who you know is not praying for themselves this way. Ask if you can call them and pray for them, or write a note of encouragement for them.