GraceCreates

by Jon Walker

“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 10:41–42 (NIV)

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Martha was busy for Jesus, and that left her too busy to be with Jesus.

Jesus was sitting in her living room, but she was in her kitchen steaming vegetables for God. Don’t misunderstand; no doubt Jesus would be blessed by a hot meal served by the best cook in Bethany.

But, as Jesus always valued relationships over anything else, his preference might have been a simple cheese and olive pita in exchange for time spent enjoying Martha’s company.

Can you think of Jesus simply relaxing among friends, blessed to be with them?

It’s easy to get so busy for Jesus that we no longer have time for Jesus, and it’s easy to get so busy serving at the church that we don’t have time for people.

The point here is not to give a free pass for sitting on the sidelines; rather, it’s to point you and me toward prioritizing for purpose. First, we seek God (spend time with Jesus), then we do the things he wants us to do.

Our objective-in-Jesus is to serve others in love without distractions, being all there, focused on them.

There is a sacramental element to serving with simply our presence.

There may be things you are doing that God never intended for you to do. Maybe you’re doing them out of guilt, maybe because you thought you had to, or maybe because it seems like everyone else is doing them.

Nudge Mary over and sit down next to her at the feet of Jesus, and find out what’s on his mind. He’ll give you a to-do list of the things he wants you specifically to do because he knows what the Father shaped you to do.

Jon Walker is the author of “Growing with Purpose: Connecting with God Every Day.” This article is copyrighted 2010 by Jon Walker. Used by permission.

by Jon Walker

Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and every sickness. Matthew 10:1 (TEV)

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The disciples of Jesus have one thing in common: Jesus.

It is Jesus who calls people of all different races, nationalities, and backgrounds together to form the Church, prompting you to open your home for the night to a stranger who simply comes in the name of Christ.

It is Jesus who provides you with food in a foreign land, based on nothing more than the testimony that Christ lives in your heart. When we answer the call of Christ, we cease to be strangers to all others who have answered his call.

It is Jesus who creates the Church through the real and supernatural connection between himself and every believer.  The Church, then, is a group of believers, all energized by the divine nature of Christ, working together to do what the Spirit tells them

It is Jesus who empowers us for ministry. It is only because of Jesus that we are able to love others, serving them with a supernatural sacrifice that can only be explained by the divine nature of Christ working through us.

Jon Walker is the author of “Growing with Purpose: Connecting with God Every Day.” This article is copyrighted 2010 by Jon Walker. Used by permission.

by Jon Walker

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27 (NIV)

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The Bible teaches that you should take deliberate action toward loving your neighbor—in the same way you want to be loved by your neighbor.

Yet, God knows this is an impossible assignment unless you have his Spirit working within you, guiding and transforming you. It’s hard enough to love yourself, let alone the contrary (my polite Southern way of saying disagreeable) neighbor down the street.

You will be empowered to love your neighbor as you allow God to empower you; as you trust and obey (for there’s no other way) God’s leading in your life; as you purposefully give your whole being—heart, soul, strength, and mind—to God.

This brings you daily to the door of dependence upon God, a threshold you step through acknowledging that you need him to work through you. In doing this, you’re able to draw upon God’s strength and love; he becomes the power, the infinite love, within you to love others as yourself.

They may waste your love; they may discount your love; they may react angrily to your love; they may never understand your love, yet, your other-centered love demonstrates the depth and breadth of God’s love for us: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 NIV).

Truth says God is transforming you from self-centered to other-centered, and that frees you to love without expecting anything in return.

Jon Walker is the author of “Growing with Purpose: Connecting with God Every Day.” This article is copyrighted 2010 by Jon Walker. Used by permission.

by Jon Walker

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.” Luke 10:27 (NIV)

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No doubt it sounds strange, but in order to love God with all your strength, you have to admit you are weak.

By doing this, you acknowledge God is the true source of your strength and that in your weakness he is strong. You become strong as you become totally dependent upon him, allowing his strength to work through you.

As God shows his strength through you, you’ll find yourself doing things you never thought possible. God promises you can do all things through him as he gives you his strength (Philippians 4:13). You’ll take steps of faith you never thought possible, and you’ll love others in a way you never imagined as God supplies you with supernatural strength and energy.

Tell God you need his strength and really mean it this time. When you try to love and serve others with just your strength, you’ll inevitably fail. And that’s okay, because God wants you to fail in your own strength so you’ll start to rely upon his strength.

Then, love God with all his strength. God knows you won’t be able to love him with all your strength until you become dependent upon his strength to do so. You simply can’t do it through your own energy or strength. God knows you’ll come to realize this yourself and, at that point, you’ll be faced with a very clear, but difficult choice: keep-on keeping-on in your own strength, wondering why this abundant-life thing just doesn’t work, or take the Nestea plunge into a deep-end dependence on God’s strength.

Jon Walker is the author of “Growing with Purpose: Connecting with God Every Day.” This article is copyrighted 2010 by Jon Walker. Used by permission.