If I Got Jesus: Living for Christ Aloneनमुना

Day 2, Jesus … Even In Identity

“If you make work your identity and you succeed, it’ll go to your head. If you fail, it’ll go to your heart.” - Timothy Keller.

Ooof. What a way to start out our second day of “If I Got Jesus: Living For Christ Alone”. It is our greatest hope that this quote would convict your hearts in the same way that it cut deeply to ours.

When you introduce yourself, how do you do so?

So many of us gravitate towards explaining ourselves through whatever we do during the day. We call ourselves mothers and fathers, employees and bosses, accountants and plumbers - teachers and counselors. We put ourselves into multiple categories to identify ourselves, but so many times - it happens through work.

This isn’t a bad thing! Work is good and a gift from God. However, sometimes we can put so much of ourselves into what we do - rather than Who’s we ARE (Children of God). We are in good company of so many people in scripture who have struggled with the same thing - but today, we are going to focus on one instance in Luke 10.

Do you have a friend who is a really really good host? They always have the best activities planned, facilitate incredible conversation - usually around a table of an incredible meal and you always feel welcomed in their home - a cozy and safe space.

This was Martha to those around her. She was an incredible host who made people feel welcome. Yet, as stated previously, when we put our identity in something other than Christ, things can get out of alignment.

In Luke 10, Jesus and the disciples go to the home of Mary and Martha. Martha is quick to open her home to them, as a good host would in that time. While Martha starts to prepare for the guests upon their arrival, her sister, Mary, “sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said,” (Luke 10:39). In ancient Hebrew Culture, hospitality was required by all. In particular, Martha was exceptionally gifted in that area - so naturally, she felt a pressure (by both her own standard & society’s) to perform well. Frustrated by her sister’s lack of helping her take on this societal role, she complains to Jesus, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:40). After all, during this time period, it was commonplace that women served the household while men sat to learn from their Rabbi.

But, we see in this text that Jesus flips this norm on its head, proclaiming “‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, “‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’” (Luke 10:41-42).

What a declaration. Jesus knows Martha’s heart and the custom. He understands that she is just trying to do what is right. Yet - He also knows that her identity is in her work instead of himself, in Jesus. But he doesn’t stop there. He instead calls her deeper, beckoning her to sit at his feet and to dwell with Him.

In the song “If I Got Jesus”, Ben Fuller sings the lyric, “If I’ve got Jesus, I’ve got all that I could ever need,” and how reminiscent is that to the truth that He proclaims over Mary & Martha.

Jesus is the prize. He is the goal.

Our work is good. Our ministry is good. Using our giftings is good. But the presence of Jesus is GREAT. May we forever and always put that first - above all else - recognizing that He is all we could ever truly need.

As you go out today, we invite you to pray with us.

“Lord,

Today - we ask you to come into our hearts and lavish us in your love. Remind us that everything pales in comparison to you. Remind us that perfection is not what you seek - but instead our open and surrendered hearts. Give us strength today to seek you in all things and remind us that you are more than enough for us. You and You alone.

In Jesus’ Name we pray,

Amen.”

Go in peace today, friends.