“He restoreth my soul…” – Psalm 23:3 (NKJV)
The location – it was Martha’s house.
The Scripture in Luke 10:38-42 records that – “Martha received Him into her house.” (V 38 – KJV). He and they who were with Him.
Martha and her sister Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet, heard His Word. They both were sitting at Jesus’ feet, listening to Him. At some point, Martha left that intimate setting to be hospitable, serving those who had come along with Jesus at her house. And being overwhelmed, she appealed to Jesus to send Mary to her to assist her.
While Martha was concerned with feeding the physical, the mundane, Mary remained seated gleaning at the feet of Jesus, feeding her spirit as He spoke. Jesus’ response – “Martha, Martha,” was indeed an attention getter! Her focus or choice was not a priority. She was busy doing things for Jesus rather than spending time in His presence. How often do we find ourselves in similar positions?
‘Sitting at the feet of Jesus,’ Jesus affirmed Mary’s position, calling it the “good part” which
shall not be taken from her to serve tables. Mary fain would deny the Lord’s presence, while Martha swapped being in His presence for labouring in the kitchen. Jesus desires us to “Be Still in His Presence” and not be distracted by what is going on around us. Seek not to be caught up in our Giftings. Prioritise the important!
God is relational. He desires fellowship! And, when He turns up, we must be in a position to
fellowship with Him, giving Him our undivided attention. In Genesis 3, He came down in the cool of the day to have fellowship with Adam and Eve, but they were not in place. They were hiding from His presence.
We, like Mary, ought to seek the better part. The Psalmist David in Psalm 27:4 (KJV) expressed it thus – “One thing I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold [His] beauty…” Let us inculcate the same desire and determination to live in God’s presence.
Sitting at the feet of Jesus is a teachable position, one of humilitude, dedication, and openness to learning and receiving wisdom from above – a position of rest and comfort. Luke 8:27-35 tells the account of a demon-possessed man living among the tombs; released from bondage, freed of a legion of demons; healed, fully clothed, and in his right mind – sitting in submission at the feet of Jesus.
May our desire be to sit at Jesus’ feet (be in His presence), open vessels where He may pour into us as we crave more of Him.
Read: Isaiah 40:31; Philippians 3:10
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 13; Matthew 15:10-39; Genesis 43; Genesis 44