Intimacy with God

Mary’s Devotion to Jesus

Introduction

Recently I was on a prayer walk with the Lord processing some of the challenges that I have been walking through. I started becoming distracted and burdened. All of a sudden I become drawn to video games and YouTube.

It didn’t make any sense! I was reading five chapters of the Bible a day! I was praying in tongues frequently. I was experiencing the presence of God in worship! Why are these distractions so tantalizing!?

After some time the Lord spoke to me and said, “Bogdan you feel tired and distracted because you have lost sight of intimacy. You are doing spiritual things but not for connection. You read your Bible to get through a plan, but not slow enough to encounter me. You pray in tongues to be built up in your spirit, but when was the last time we had a heart-to-heart conversation?

This is a common challenge that we experience, and its a biblical experience.

I started living more like Martha and less like Mary.

Main Text

Luke 10:38–42 NASB95

Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Martha

Luke 10:38 NASB95

Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.

Luke 10:40 NASB95

But Martha was distracted with all her preparations…

Martha invited Jesus into her home, but was distracted with her preparations.

The term distracted means “to be pulled away.”

How many times do we invite the Lord into our life but quickly busy ourselves with good things that are a distraction from the main thing. How many worship sets are we going through the motions but are not connecting with Him intimately. How many times have we read our Bibles but not intimately encountered Him through our Bibles?

Mary

Luke 10:39 ESV

And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.

This reflexive (who sat) makes it clear that Mary took the initiative in sitting by Jesus.

Notice her posture, she is sitting, not standing or walking, running or jumping, there is no multi-tasking.

Notice her position, one of humility, low on the floor and not seated above Him.

Notice what’s before her, the Jewish feet of her Rabbi, the place of a true disciple.

Luke 10:41–42 NASB95

But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Jesus repeating Martha’s signifies emotion. It is a tender moment.

Martha was worried and upset about so many things, but only one thing is necessary.

Mary has chosen it (for it must be a choice!) and she refuses to get distracted with busy work.