The right choice

And Jesus answered and said to her, “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 away from her.”

It didn't take me two seconds to feel the oil of God's presence as I walked to my prayer room to spend time with him and seek him out. I've been on an amazing journey with God, seeking his face in quietness and waiting for him. This is where I find my strength and security; this is where I gain confidence, and then I know it’s absolutely not about me. We discover what it means to be a son and the love he has shown us in his presence. Grace upon grace, a never-ending devotion that removes all of your suffering or washes away your sins. God began speaking to me about the story of Mary and Martha once again. It is a place where God wants you to sit at his feet and where you may go low yet still soar. You see yourself surpassing human limitations and entering God's supernatural might, where you genuinely get to know him in a whole other way.

Or even the story of Mary Magdalene, who devotedly followed Jesus before and even after his crucifixion, or the woman who poured out the alabaster perfume. They found something that no being could earn by miracles or otherworldly gifts. They were all caught in the presence of the Son of God, and they were unable to turn their gaze from the one they loved the most. Someone who showed their value restored them back to their identity. What made them follow Jesus was not what they would gain from his hands, but all of them were restored back to the lover of their soul, taken out of the pit of darkness, and restored back to the life of their king.

I was reminded today by God of the story of Mary and Martha, the importance of making wise decisions in life, and the ability to recognize the seasons and time of day. While pondering what was happening, I said to God, "But we all could relate to Martha." Martha was the one who greeted and welcomed Jesus to the city and their house. Perhaps inspired by Jesus' enthusiasm and love, Martha began serving Jesus and his followers out of external good manners. Martha likewise adored Jesus and was aware of his goodness as a master. However, what Mary did at the time was culturally inappropriate: a woman looked at the face of a man, and she was sitting at his feet and listening to him; she entirely ignored the room and was enthralled with him, and Jesus never rejected or ignored her. I believe what made her suddenly go against the norm was God’s presence.

She realized that she, in the room, was the one who was hungry and in desperate need of him. She was drawn to him by the Holy Spirit, not by human necessity or earthly etiquette. In fact, it makes me think of the passage of Peter, when Jesus questioned his disciple, "Who do you think I am?" Peter replied right away that he is the Son of God, the Messiah. Peter received this revelation at that very moment from Father.

The Bible says that Jesus loved Martha and Mary, and even the people of the town mentioned it. However, Mary's faith and longing for her Savior were the driving forces behind one of the day's greatest miracles. God is moved by the heart of a person who knows how to reach out and believe in a time of need, not by our actions, my friend, but because you set your love and affection on him.

Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.

It’s strange that we would believe we could do anything or even pray more powerfully to draw God’s presence. God's kingdom is just made possible by those who have been given revelation, accepted the truth, and have the eyes to see Jesus Christ, the living God, that they may call upon him and transform the world. However, we still have a choice to love God and be graciously loved by him, as Martha did, or we may choose to be like Mary and choose the finest portion that will never be taken away from her, and it's sitting at the feet of the lover of her soul. 

One of the things I felt God was bringing to my attention was that many people feel as though they have lost their way, their calling, or perhaps their dream or vision has been stolen by the enemy. However, I will tell you the truth: you are the child of God, and you are greatly favored by your king. If you decide to sit at Jesus' feet and look at his face like Mary, you will regain your strength and be renewed in your sight with a new passion for his glory. And I'll give you the comfort of knowing that whatever you receive from Jesus, no one in heaven or on earth can take away. Men did not bring it, and they cannot take it away.