Choosing Jesus

What if you could turn a corner and find a million dollars? Or a new house or car? If you're like me, you couldn't wait to make that turn! But here's a staggering spiritual truth: Jesus is the way that leads us into the presence of God. In Him we find wisdom and knowledge...supply for every need...love that fills our deepest heartlongings...perspective that gives meaning to every circumstance...adventure that takes us places we could never go on our own. Everything worth having flows from Him. That's why there is nothing more important than our relationship with Jesus. So how intimate are you with Jesus right now? More importantly, how intimate would Jesus say you are with Him? A Tale of Tragic Distraction Mary and Martha were sisters, and good friends of Jesus. But one experienced a far deeper relationship with Jesus than the other: As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 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!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:38-42). The difference was that Martha had been "drawn away" and distracted from relationship with Jesus. It wasn't terribly evil things that pulled her aside, just the tyranny of the urgent-the routine intrusions of

common days. Ian Thomas warned that we should "beware the barrenness of a busy life." It's easy to reach a place where we are busy with tasks for Jesus but short on relationship with Him. Intimacy can be lost. And Martha was showing all the signs of a lack of genuine intimacy. Do you have any of her symptoms? Are you worried? Jesus told Martha that she was "worried" about many things. Worry is often an indication of fear that comes from unawareness of Christ's love and grace, for His "perfect love drives out fear" (1 John 4:18). Are you frustrated? Martha was "upset" by small things. She had lost the broad perspective that comes from being in the presence of a big God. Are you angry? Martha's anger controlled her, even causing her to order Jesus around! Anger is usually an indication of pride that claims rights and is irritated at personal injustices-things that are resolved in Christ's presence. Are you whining? Martha's dissatisfaction caused her to complain. Whining usually indicates a loss of gratitude and humility, both of which are immediate responses when you really encounter Christ. The Vital Choice Jesus' evaluation of Mary's life is inspiring. Although she was just an ordinary woman, Jesus said she had chosen "what is better," something that could never be taken away from her. Our hearts were made for this kind of intimacy. The truth is that we will be intimate with something or someone. If we do not drink deeply of Jesus, our souls will go in silent search of other lovers. But substitutes can never fulfill the longings of our soul. So what will we choose? "We are now and will be in the future only as close to Christ as we really choose to be" wrote J. Oswald Sanders. Jesus is waiting for you. And everything you need is there. Everything.

Bill Elliff is the Directional Pastor of The Summit Church in North Little Rock, AR. He is a conference speaker, writer, and consultant to churches, with over 40 years in ministry.