The words to describe the way I love Jesus have probably not been created yet ’cause my love for Him runs so deep and wide! I rejected Him, denied Him for the longest time but yet He loved me, loves me, and continues to love me unconditionally. It may sound cliché as you read this but I really and truly love Jesus. I know and see the difference between my life now and my life without Him and it only gets better and better. In a nutshell, I love Jesus fiercely.
This love for Him powers and propels everything that I do, especially the things I do for Him and His kingdom. My love for Him is the reason I write to you every week as well as well as do other things for Him regardless of any challenge that I may be faced with. He went all the way to the cross for me, He went through a whole lot for me, so what can’t I or shouldn’t I do for Him. Amongst the knowledge of Jesus that I have to in the last five years of walking with Him, I understand that He has needs, too, just as I have needs. His needs may come in diverse forms but it is all encapsulated in the need for people worldwide to come to the full knowledge of Him. He wants people to leave the gross darkness in which the earth is covered with into His marvelous light of abundance, peace, and everything good. Furthermore, asides from showing my unending love for Him, I’d also like to hear Him say to me on the last day- well done, my good, and faithful servant enter into the joy of the Lord – Matthew 25:23
So since I have this knowledge, I try my possible best to give my all to the best of my capacity. But something I was reminded of recently is the fact that I could give my all, work night and day sharing His love at the expense of my relationship with Him. Let me try to paint this picture for you; so I love my husband so much, I am willing to do almost everything within my capacity for him to see him happy like buy him gifts, make dinner, lunch or breakfast, and the likes. But then because I think he is happy with all these things, I neglect spending quality time with him daily. I neglect having conversations with him about his day, to ask him how feels, if things have changed with him, and so on. Definitely, with time, I probably would start to experience pushback from him or I’d start to feel overwhelmed because I am probably not seeing the results I am expecting. Instead of seeing a happy husband, I’d probably start to see a sad or frustrated husband. I think applies to any kind of friendship as well, but I am just a sucker for love hence my example :). With that said, I think it is safe to say that Communication is essential for any relationship to thrive, especially our relationship with Jesus.
So, God, has me doing a number of things for Him currently but then there is a particular one that seemed to have me overwhelmed perpetually. I’d be at meetings and I’d literally have my hands over my head expressing my overwhelmed state of mind. Although I had started to draw strength from my time with Jesus for the last couple of weeks, He shed more light concerning this matter for me in this past week.
And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:42
The above statement was made by my Jesus to Martha when He went to visit her and her family. While He was there, Martha went ahead to be the best host she could possibly be; she was in the kitchen trying to make the best meal for Him while Mary who was Martha’s sister sat at Jesus’ feet. I mean I think, I’d probably have done the same thing as Martha. I remember that when we have guests over at my parents’ house, my mum, sister, and I could spend hours in the kitchen trying to make meals for our guests. So Martha was probably not out of line to try to give Jesus the best meal. One of the things that stood out for me from this encounter with Jesus is seen in Luke 10:40 – But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
This for me is a pointer to the fact that there is a way we can be so immersed in our service to God that we become distracted or worked up by it. I love the MSG translation of Jesus’ response to her – 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 10:42. Mary who was Martha’s sister had chosen to sit at Jesus’ feet to have conversations with Him – this, Jesus said was the most important.
This is a reminder and pointer to all of us serving in God’s vineyard that we cannot serve Him optimally without spending a good time with Him. I have experienced and learned over time that this quality time spent with Him helps in the following ways:
- It lifts the burden off one’s shoulder; because after all, Jesus shouldered it all the way to the cross.
- It helps to rejuvenate one’s body, soul, and spirit for the work ahead
- Jesus shares fresh ideas, instructions, and directions with us and we have the opportunity to hear them.
- It helps our spiritual growth and maturity
- It helps us to conform to the image of Christ while bearing our cross daily.
As I wrap up this post, I am reminded of the scripture in John 15:1-5 – I am the true vine, no one can bear fruit except they abide in me. I pray from the depths of my heart that you and I are constantly reminded how paramount our relationship with Jesus is above everything else.