If you found yourself standing before Jesus right now, would He be pleased with you, or would you be found wanting?
How much time do you give Him in reading His word and in prayer? Do you actually know Him? Does He actually know you?
Let me put this another way. Are you like Martha, who was cumbered and busy with serving and activities, or are you like Mary, who sat at Jesus feet and listened to Him speak?
Luke 10:38-42 NIV
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Remember when Lazarus died? When Jesus finally came to Bethany and Mary and Martha heard that He had arrived Martha went to meet Jesus but Mary stayed at home.
John 11:21-22 NIV
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
Jesus told Martha her brother would live again. What's interesting is what happens when she goes back home.
John 11:28-32 NIV
28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. 32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Martha called Jesus Lord to His face, but when she wasn't near Him she called Him Teacher. That's pretty disrespectful. Also, notice the difference in the way Mary interacted with Him. She waited for Jesus to call her, and when she reached Him, she fell at His feet. Mary said the same thing Martha said, but the difference is Mary worshipped Him. Martha did not.
Are you so busy with church activities and the things you think you're supposed to be doing that you are neglecting a relationship with Jesus? Are you too busy living your life, weighed down by the cares, lusts, and pleasures of this world that you're neglecting your Savior?
I'm not saying it's not important to do the things Jesus taught; feeding the homeless, helping the poor and the needy. I'm not saying your job or your family or your church isn't important. But I am saying that having a relationship with Jesus should be your foundation. You should not be letting them keep you from spending time with Him. You are saved by your faith, not by works. Your works support your faith and come as a result of that faith.
Matthew 7:21-23 NIV
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Above all, Jesus wants to know you. He wants you to abide in Him and in His love. This is reinforced in John 15.
John 15:1-10 NIV
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
How can you remain in Jesus' love if you don't even know Him? How can you taste that the Lord is good if you won't even take the time to experience Him? How can Jesus actually come live in you if you won't even open the door of your heart to Him? How can He affect you if you won't invest your time and effort in Him?
You need to love Him and trust Him completely. You need to wait on Him.
The foundation of salvation is coming to the end of yourself and realizing that you can't save yourself. You have to realize that you need Jesus to save you. You humble yourself and acknowledge that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and paid the price you couldn't pay. You ask Him for forgiveness of your sins, you confess those sins, and you ask Him to save you.
Would you want to die to be the Savior to someone who is going to be unappreciative of it and go on about their life as if nothing happened? Would you want to be an afterthought to them? No, I don't think you would. So why would you treat Jesus this way?
A relationship is a commitment. It takes effort, time, and communication from both parties.
Revelation 3:15-19 NIV
15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
Jesus doesn't want you sitting on the fence. Is it a good thing for someone to be cold toward you? NO! So, He doesn't want your heart to be cold towards Him either. He wants you to be hot. He wants your heart, your devotion, your commitment, your attention, your time. He wants your adoring love. It was out of His love that He created you and died to save you. He wants the best of you, He wants first place in your heart, and quite frankly, He deserves nothing less.
Luke 14:26-27 NIV
26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
Jesus set us free from the bondage of sin. He died for us to save us from hell, so that we can spend eternity with Him in heaven. I ask you, how can you possibly not love and adore Him with all of your heart, and even all of your being? How can you not want to surrender and give everything to the one who gave everything, even His life for you?
I tell you, with absolute certainty from personal experience, that you are missing out on the greatest love, experience, comfort, peace, encouragement, satisfaction, and joy that you will ever know if you won't surrender to Him and give Him everything.
Let go. Let His love fill you. Let Him take charge. Let Him lead. Ask to be baptized with His Holy Spirit so that you can serve Him effectively and bring Him glory. You will NOT regret it.
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