Listening To Jesus Daily | Luke 10:38-42
Welcoming Jesus.
Is Jesus welcome into your house, apartment or room? When Jesus entered Martha’s village, it says “Martha welcomed Him into her house” (v. 38). Walking with Jesus starts each day by welcoming Him where we live. Welcoming Him is being aware of His presence in our homes before we rush off to our phones, emails and to-do-lists.
But when Jesus came into Martha’s house, it was Mary “who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to His teaching” (v. 39). Are you a good listener? Clearly, Martha was not a good listener. While Martha was quick to welcome Jesus, she was too distracted doing for Jesus.
Serving Jesus.
It says, “40 But Martha was distracted with much serving.” Our hearts are addicted to distractions and busyness. It is easy to be so busy for Jesus and miss what Jesus has come to do. In her distraction, Martha even questioned the caring nature of Jesus. She said in frustration, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” Clearly, Martha needed help. But the help she needed was not merely physical. It was deeper than what she could see. Jesus said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things” (v. 41). We frequently fail to listen even to our own anxious and troubled hearts. Our anxious and troubled hearts are unable to catch up with our most urgent tasks. This is why we need to slow down to pause and reflect.
So, while Martha was troubled about “many things” Jesus showed Martha what she was missing. He said to her, “but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (v. 42). What is the “one thing necessary” that Martha really need? To sit down at Jesus’ feet and listen to His Word. This is the good portion that Mary had chosen.
LEARNING TO LISTEN.
To sit down at Jesus feet is a sign of humility. It’s a sign of a teachable heart. Like in any relationship, to grow in relationship with Jesus we must learn to listen well. We make choices everyday. We always choose what our hearts desire most. We must listen to our desires to see if there are desires that compete with Jesus. We must learn to slow down, sit down to listen to our scattered thoughts. In humility, we can ask Jesus to bring our hearts to a stand still and wait in silence. We can welcome Him into our hearts, in our rooms, and thank Him for the new morning mercies for the day. We can open His Word to listen to what He has to say to our hearts. Then, we can respond in prayer to what He says. This is the good portion we can choose each day because Jesus has chosen to enter our lives.
jesus came to serve US.
Remember it was Jesus who came to Mary and Martha’s village. Jesus has chosen to enter our busy hometown and cities affected by sin, chaos, anxieties and troubles. Martha was busy serving, but Jesus came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10: 45). When we sit down to listen to His Word, Jesus serves us by speaking into anxious and troubled hearts. He speaks peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:7). When Jesus fills our hearts with His own peace, we too can serve others from a place of rest, love, peace and joy! Serving can come from the overflow of our intimacy with Jesus as we spend time with Him daily.
Ask yourself: Do I listen to reply? Do I listen to speak? Do I listen to be fully present with Jesus? Do I listen to understand and know Him? Do I listen to worship Jesus? When I listen to sermons do I listen to worship and be changed? Do I listen to Jesus’ Word—to know Him intimately? Do I listen to trust and obey Him? Jesus said, “Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
I recommend Daily Light in The Daily Path | Classic Devotional by Samuel Bagster. FREE here.
Pastor Joey.Z