Lately, there has been a longing
for more of God and at the same time, I pondered about my slow walk with God.
Then a sentence dropped into my mind:
“Sit at my feet and learn from me.”
As I continued to ponder, I
remembered the story of Mary and Martha.
38 -40As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village.
A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She
had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said.
But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she
stepped in, interrupting them. "Master, don't you care that my sister has
abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand."
41-42The Master said, "Martha, dear Martha, you're
fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing
only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it's the main course, and won't be
taken from her." (Luke 10: 38-42. The Message)
Then I began to have a grasp of
why my walk with God was slow. I have allowed the pressures and pleasures of
this world to distract me. Even being involved in the church has given one some
form of deception. Like Martha, I have become busy with secondary things. I
have allowed these secondary things to take the place of God in my life.
As I continued to meditate on ‘sit
at my feet and learn from me,’ God began to throw more light on it:
When a child’s father comes home
from work, the child will run to the father, sit on his lap and ask for a story.
You will know that the child listened to the story when you hear, “Daddy
said...”
Then I imagined, “Fine! I will
sit on my rug daily and study the word” Then I sensed in my spirit, “It is not
just the physical sitting but also the spiritual sitting”
How?
Make out time
Martha was busy running around to
ensure every visitor in her house was fed and comfortable while Mary chose to
shut out other things competing for her time and sit at Jesus’ feet. There are
times when the first thing that occurs to me is to sit at my masters feet; then
I remember the kitchen needs to be tidied up, I have a deadline to meet, I have
work assignments that were overdue and the list would go on. I guess you know
what I would do. You are clever! I would forget about Jesus and attend to these
secondary things and would blame him when my day does not go well. But Jesus,
ever so loving is encouraging me now to take Mary’s approach – seek God first.
Make out time to spend with him daily.
Listen
As stated above in the scripture,
Mary was hanging on every word Jesus said. I guess you would have experienced a
situation whereby you are talking to someone about something important and
after a while it becomes clear to you the person is not listening. Listening is
not only hearing but also internalizing and comprehending what is being said. Listening
requires full attention, keeping an
open mind and good auditory memory (ability to listen and remember). God is encouraging us to give him our full
attention when we sit at his feet. He does not like approaches such as hit and
run or for the record purposes. He wants us to come to him in all sincerity and
patience to learn from him.
Meditate
Meditation is defined as
continued or extended thought; reflecting or contemplating upon a thing,
situation or word. Meditation means to churn the word over and over again. Musing
over the word we have heard or read expands it and we receive more revelation
making it much clearer for us to follow. Mediation helps to engrave the word in
our hearts. So I understood that God expects me to meditate on his word after I
have heard it or read it.
Apply
Having meditated upon his word, the
next step is to apply it. God is not looking for hearers of his word but doers.
22 -24Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a
listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the
other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who
glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they
are, what they look like. (James 1: 22-24. The Message)
The more we act on what we hear,
the closer we get to him and the more he reveals.
Repeat the steps daily
Imagine a child who usually runs daily
to her father for stories; as she grows she begins to feel she knows enough
stories to last her a lifetime. Then she declares her independence. I remember
those days I would remind my father I was an adult so he should stop treating
me like a child. I wanted to do my own thing when and how I chose. The same way
our earthly parents keep seeing us as their children despite the fact we may
have children of our own, we are children before God. If you declare your
independence from God, you lose the essence of living. So the steps above: make
out time, listen, meditate and apply should be enshrined in our lives till
death.
Behold, ‘sit at my feet and learn
from me’ has been expanded as above. And when this dawned on me, I worshiped
God feeling honoured he has exposed his word to me.
Then I sensed him saying, “It is
because you sat at my feet”
bless you for writing such a lovely, God sensitive blog, it meant much when i read it.. please keep sharing your beautiful relationship with jesus.. honoured to have read it.
ReplyDeletechristine lewis.
Dear Christine,
ReplyDeleteI must confess I was touched by your comment. I am actually battling with tears. I will by his grace continue to share my journey with our Lord Jesus.
Thanks for dropping by and may God enlarge your territory.