“Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

Jesus asks His faithful children to “abide” in His word. What does it mean to “abide?” Basically, Jesus is simply asking us to “be” with him. To “stay” with him. To “listen” to him. God’s word says, “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) Many of us may not know how to just “be” with God!  Wouldn’t it be great if you could “hang-out” with Jesus? Sure, it WOULD be nice, but we’re all just too busy right?

In Luke 10, Jesus is visiting some friends, Mary and Martha. Martha is very BUSY with all of the preparations for the meal. Mary is simply “hanging out” with Jesus. Martha gets angry and says to Jesus, “Master, don’t you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand.” Jesus responded “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.” (Luke 10:40-42 - The Message)

Jesus is teaching Martha (and us) that it’s NOT a bad thing to be busy (Martha was fixing up a great meal!), but it was a BETTER thing to simply be hanging out with Jesus. Listening to His words. Mary was soaking it all up!

I don’t know about you, but I ALWAYS identify with Martha. I like to be “doing” things. I like to be busy! But, before we can “do” what Jesus asks us to do, we need to “be” with Him. What does “being with God” actually look like? I think that it begins with “BEING” in God’s Word and allowing God to actually speak to me through His Word. To allow the Holy Spirit to enable me to wait on God’s direction before I act and take charge on my own. When you pray, seek God’s will in your life and not your own.

Zach Zehnder writes, “Our doing flows out of who we are and who we become when we spend time with Christ!” This week, try BEING a little more like Mary and simply spend some time hanging out with Jesus in His word.

Hanging out with Jesus,

Pastor Maske