Listening

She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.

Luke 10:39 NIV

https://luke.bible/luke-10-39

The verse from Luke we just read says that Mary listened. In the cacophony of today’s world that can be one of our biggest challenges - to truly listen. There’s always another beep or buzz distracting us from what matters. The “have to’s” are relentless in their demand. They are a constant drip, drip, drip on our souls. Till we are bone dry and parched inside.

When Mary turned her gaze to Jesus, everything else faded. I don’t know about you, but I often come to him with one eye on the clock or my phone. And then I wonder why I didn’t hear from Him that day. 

Listening involves drawing close to Him. Listening involves an intentional shutting out of distractions so He can hold our thoughts and our hearts captive. Listening involves being still enough to hear God whisper. 

We have to choose whether we prefer the cacophony or whether we choose to shut everything else out to hear Him speak. He longs for us to draw close so we can hear Him when He whispers.

Lean In

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

John 10:27 NIV

https://john.bible/john-10-27

Lord, there are so many things in my day that clamor for my attention. Sometimes, the din is overwhelming. Sometimes, though, the noise is from within me – a cluttered mind drowning out Your voice. Help me to listen for Your whispers. I need You, Oh I need You. Amen

Mary annoints Jesus

She was unreserved in her love for him. She worshiped him. Not a casual, what’s-next-on-the-agenda worship. But an extravagant worship where she didn’t count the cost. It was a reverential worship, an extraordinary worship, perhaps even an irrational worship. She didn’t look at the clock or her wallet or at people around her who were wagging their fingers in judgement. Instead, she looked at Jesus. She allowed him to fill her vision and eclipse everything else around her. 

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Galatians 1:10 NIV
https://galatians.bible/galatians-1-10

Be still.....Mary and Martha

In contrast to Martha’s looking at the people in the house, her to-do list and her own sense of fairness, Mary was sitting down on the floor, looking at Jesus.  Her whole posture was one of humility. Her body language reads: “I need Thee, oh I need Thee,” rather than, “I got this.” In that humility of trusting God rather than her own abilities, Mary took the pressure off herself.  She was embodying Psalm 46:10 - “Be still and know that I am God.”  What does “be still” mean?  The Hebrew for “be still” translates to let go of your grip, to make oneself weak. What a freeing idea! In our complete dependence on a God who won’t ever fail us, we find freedom.  Mary modeled a restful worship as she settled down and settled in or abided with Jesus. She abided in the Vine and realized that apart from God she could do nothing.  What is it you and I need to let go of? Could it be our tight grip on our schedules? Could it being saying “yes” all the time so we have only leftovers for God?  We have to be still so we can know that He is God. And we are not. 

Earning approval?

Like Martha, we may find ourselves striving in our faith walk. We may have unintentionally subscribed to a brand called performance-driven Christianity. We subconsciously buy into the idea that we can earn God’s approval. We may believe that we’re working hard for God’s kingdom, when in reality our ministry has become more important than the Messiah.

We forget that Christ died for the ungodly, for the broken, for the bruised, for those who don’t have it all together. Scripture says in Romans 5:8 that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. 

Still sinners. God doesn’t need for us to be perfect. He doesn’t want us to present a clean slate to Him. He is in the business of taking the broken pieces of our lives and melding it together to create something so beautiful that He calls us His “treasured possession.”

If you’re thinking, “I’m not good enough for this whole Christian thing,” you’re absolutely right! The truth is, none of us are “good enough.” We’ve all sinned and fallen short of God’s standard of holiness. Recognizing that we’re not ever going to make it on our own merit is the first step to finding rest for now and for all eternity. 

Take your mess to Him. Take your brokenness to Him. It’s not too much for Him to handle. 

Life aim

so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
Colossians 1:10 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/col.1.10.NIV

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
Philemon 1:7 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/phm.1.7.NIV

Life aim

so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
Colossians 1:10 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/col.1.10.NIV

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
Philemon 1:7 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/phm.1.7.NIV

You already possess

Have you ever been in a rush to go somewhere, but couldn’t find your keys? You pat down your pockets. You check your purse. You search in between the couch seats, on the kitchen counter tops, and through all your drawers. Only to discover… they were in your hand the entire time!

How frustrating and tiring it is to search for something you already possess. And yet, many Christians live like this. They’re searching for peace, power, victory, and spiritual success, not realizing that God has already blessed them with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places.