Water for the Thirsty
Weekly Devotional

29^th August 2010

Have you noticed that when Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus, is mentioned in Scripture she is often recorded as sitting at Jesus’ feet?

Why did she do that?

Here are three important reasons:

1. She was there for instruction

‘…Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said’. (Luke 10:39).

Jesus said that ‘Mary has chosen what is better’ (V42) than household chores, and we too choose something of importance when we choose instruction from the Lord, because His instruction is...

• Needed to avoid ignorance. (Hosea 4:6; Acts 17:30).
• Needed to produce faith. (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:6).
• Needed to escape sin. (2 Peter 2:20; 2 Timothy 3:7; John 8:32).
• Needed to face the judgment. (John 12:48).

How do we sit at Jesus’ feet today to receive His instruction?

We receive our instructions from Christ through Scripture. (Hebrews 2:1–4; Ephesians 3:3–4; 2 Timothy 3:15–16; cf. Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 2:15)

So we should welcome Bible study, and we should welcome Bible preaching. (Cf. 1 Corinthians 1:21; Nehemiah 8:8).

2. She was there for comfort

‘When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."’ (John 11:32).

Mary needed comfort because she had lost her brother, and many need comfort today because of sorrow in their lives.

How does Jesus comfort His people today as we sit at His feet?

The Lord comforts us through His words. (Psalm 147:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:18; Revelation 2:9–10; 2 Corinthians 7:6), and He comforts us through His servants. (Cf. Matthew 25:35–36; Romans 12:15).

We should value the warmth, encouragement and support we receive from God’s Word and His people.

3. She was there for service

‘Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages.6He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."’ (John 12:3–8).

If we are to sit at Jesus’ feet then we must serve Him (John 12:26; Colossians 3:24), which means we must be obedient to Him. (Romans 6:16–18).

What does this involve?

It means:

• A life of service (Ephesians 2:10; Titus 3:1; 2:14)
• That we must serve him single-heartedly (Matthew 6:24; cf. Romans 6:6) and
• We must serve him on his terms. (Matthew 7:24–27)

Can you be found at the feet of Jesus, being instructed by Him, comforted by Him and serving Him?

Have a good week sitting at Jesus’ feet.

Pastor Barry

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