Feet First: Sitting Before Serving
Inspired by insights from Abide Above
"Mary... sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard His word. But Martha was encumbered about much serving."
—Luke 10:39, 40
In our fast-paced world, service often takes precedence over stillness. Like Martha, we rush to do the work we believe God requires, often without first sitting at His feet to receive His Word. Yet Mary’s example teaches us a vital truth: before we can effectively serve, we must first be students of the Master.
The Apprentice and the Master Craftsman
Imagine a master craftsman training an apprentice. The apprentice is eager to create but lacks the skills and wisdom to craft something worthwhile. If he skips the time spent observing, listening, and learning from the master, his work will be hurried, clumsy, and likely ineffective. But when the apprentice dedicates himself to study, trusting the master’s instruction, his efforts become purposeful, and his craftsmanship reflects the master's skill.
So it is with us. Our service to the Lord is not a substitute for sitting at His feet. Rather, sitting at His feet is the foundation of any meaningful service. It is there that we hear His heart, understand His will, and grow in His likeness.
Preparation Before Action
As the devotional insightfully reminds us, looking to the Lord prepares us for the service He has designed for us. If we rush ahead to act without abiding in Him, we rely on our own limited understanding and strength. But when we prioritize communion with Christ, we are equipped for the specific tasks He calls us to, and our work flows from the overflow of His life within us.
Paul’s exhortation to “study to show thyself approved unto God” (2 Tim. 2:15) emphasizes this principle. The diligent study of His Word and the quiet moments spent in His presence enable us to become workmen who need not be ashamed, ready for the good works He has already prepared for us (Eph. 2:10).
The Balance of Sitting and Serving
Mary and Martha are not meant to be pitted against each other; instead, they reveal a balance we must all strive for. Martha’s service was not wrong, but it was misprioritized. Effective service begins and is sustained by time spent sitting with the Lord. It’s at His feet that we find the wisdom, guidance, and rest to serve well.
A Prayer of Trust in His Sufficiency
Father,
Thank You for giving us the privilege of sitting at Your feet and receiving Your Word. We rest in the truth that You have already provided everything we need for life and godliness. As we abide in You, we trust that You are equipping us for the work You have prepared for us. Let our service flow from the overflow of our fellowship with You. We are grateful that our sufficiency is in Christ alone, and we rejoice in the opportunity to reflect Your glory through both our stillness and our service. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Final Thought
Effective service is not about striving but about abiding. Like the apprentice who first learns from the master craftsman, may we prioritize time at the feet of Jesus, trusting that He will prepare us for the work He has designed us to do. In His presence, we find both rest and readiness.