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The Importance of Sitting at the Feet of Jesus (Luke 10:38-42)
Luke 10:38-42 contains the account of Mary and Martha. We see Martha serving and Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus. Read or listen to this chapter from Work and Rest God’s Way to learn when it helps us to sit at Jesus's feet. Table of contentsWhen We Must Sit at Jesus’ FeetScripture Sanctifies but Service Might NotThe Problems with Being Overwhelmed1. Sitting at the Feet of Jesus Helps When We Are Filled with Self-Pity2. Sitting at the Feet of Jesus Helps When We Are Easily Annoyed3. Sitting at the Feet of Jesus Helps When We Are Frustrated with the Lord4. Sitting at the Feet of Jesus Helps When We Are Anxious5. Sitting at the Feet of Jesus Helps When We Are Worried About OthersA Supernatural Solution When We Must Sit at Jesus’ Feet Mary’s posture at Jesus’ feet stands in stark contrast to churches that neglect the one thing needed. Willow Creek has been one of America’s most influential churches. They had elaborate programs and activities, and the measure of success was the number of people serving. So they thought. But then they conducted a thorough, multiple-year study of their ministry and found their programs and activities didn’t produce spiritual growth. Bill Hybels was the senior pastor at the time, and to his credit, he was open about their findings: Some of the stuff that we have put millions of dollars into thinking it would really help our people grow and develop spiritually, when the data actually came back, it wasn’t helping people that much. Other things that we didn’t put that much money into and didn’t put much staff against is stuff our people are crying out for. We made a mistake. What we should have done when people crossed the line of faith and become Christians, we should have started telling people and teaching people that they have to take responsibility to become self-feeders. We should have gotten people, taught people, how to read their Bible between service, how to do the spiritual practices much more aggressively on their own. They found that keeping people busy had not produced sanctification. The church of Sardis demonstrates the same. In Jesus’ letter to the church, He said, “These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1). They had “a name” or reputation that they were “alive,” which means they were known as the happening church. The people were busy, but Jesus said they were dead. How can a church be alive and dead? They were alive (and busy) physically, but dead spiritually. It’s an unbelievably sad irony that the church everyone thought was thriving was filled with unregenerate people. Scripture Sanctifies but Service Might Not Jesus told the Twelve to make disciples by “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). Disciples need to receive Jesus’ teaching, and Mary received His teaching directly from Him, at His feet! Willow Creek incorrectly thought programs produce spiritual growth. The word of Christ alone produces spiritual growth: “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17). “[Christ] might sanctify and cleanse [the church] with the washing of water by the word” (Ephesians 5:26). “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). The Word equips us to live out the Christian life: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16–17). Ephesians 4:12 says church leaders are supposed to “[equip] the saints for the work of the ministry,” and if saints are equipped by God’s Word, then church leaders need to feed their flocks the word. God’s Word gives us faith: “So then faith comes by hearing,