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Martha's sister Mary
sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word.
Martha was distracted by serving.
Jesus said, "Martha, Martha,
you are worried and troubled
about many things.
BUT ONE THING IS NEEDED,
and Mary has chosen that good part,
which will not be taken from her.
(Luke 10:41-42)
THE MYTH OF MULTI-TASKING
The term multi-tasking originated from the portable computer's ability to perform multiple functions simultaneously. This term is now applied to people, often as a badge of honor, and as the only way to survive in our fast-paced world.
However, the world is addicted to performance. We are lured to believe that the more good tasks we can perform, the more successful people we are. This is a myth.
In the book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon despaired of all of the things he sought to multi-task with this repeated phrase:
All is vanity and grasping for the wind.
The king wrote about studying, working, planting, saving, eating, dancing, making friends, pleasing others, rising early, etc, etc, etc.
But all is vanity and grasping for the wind.
The king concludes at the end of Ecclesiastes:
Here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.
This conclusion is not another task for us to perform, but is a miracle for us to experience through our being united with Christ! This is the whole duty of man!
Transitioning to full-time ministry as a vocation this past year has been the busiest time of my life. It has been overwhelming and consuming. And the adversary has tempted me to multi-task many needs. This journey has prepared my heart to personally receive the Lord's words from Luke 10:41-42 this week:
Gregg, choose the one thing needed as Mary did.
Lord, what is the one thing needed?
To simply sit at My feet and hear My words.
Following are truths from my meditation on His words in my heart.
SURRENDER Sitting at Jesus' feet is a humble acknowledgement of my surrender. He enables me to entrust to Him all the things I'm tempted to believe I need to do.
FAITH Sitting at Jesus' feet, I learn to believe in Him personally. I no longer have to only read His words from a page. I hear His words from His heart to my heart!
HOPE And because my heart is one with His heart, I am uplifted by the Spirit who indwells me.
LOVE Sitting at Jesus' feet, I can behold Him looking at me with pure delight as He speaks to me! C.H. Spurgeon beautifully wrote the following in 1871:
| Mary would not have been sitting there at ease and happy if she had not
loved Him. There was a charm in the very tone of His words to her. She knew how He had loved her, and each syllable was music to her soul.
She looked up again and again into that dear face, and often caught the
meaning of the words more readily as she read His countenance, marked
His eyes often suffused with tears and ever bright with holy sympathy. |
SERVICE Sitting at Jesus' feet, I am poised for true service. Service before sitting is all vanity and grasping for the wind.
Mary was not adverse to service. She was ready to serve in a minute's notice in response to hearing from Jesus. And even in her service, her heart would still be postured at the feet of Jesus, listening to His heart moment-by-moment.
However, Mary's first order of service was ministering to Jesus as she simply listened to Him. C.H. Spurgeon well noted, "No one gives greater joy to a public speaker than an attentive listener."
CLOSING
I now realize more how the Lord can use this Rest Stop for us to take time to sit down at His feet. The Lord is so gracious to breathe living words into us, revealing afresh His hope in us!
 
PS, The ministry of Journey in Christ teaches a conference we call the Grace Life Conference. It is the most foundational gospel teaching for Christians I have ever seen. The truths from this conference transformed my life. We have taught the conference in homes, churches, prisons, and hospital conference rooms.
This conference starts with the question, "What is God's greatest purpose for His children?" The answer to this question is a deeper study of the theme of this Rest Stop.
If you are interested in learning more about the conference or any other aspect of the ministry Journey in Christ, I would love to hear from you!
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