Listen: Communion

Read: Luke 10:38-42

Reflect: In this passage of Scripture, Martha opened her home to Jesus, receiving Him as a guest.  Like any good hostess, she was doing all of the preparations to accommodate Him and His disciples.  However, she had an attitude because Mary, her sister, didn’t see Jesus the way she did.  Mary saw Him as a teacher and that perception inconvenienced Martha.  Martha got upset and complained to Jesus saying, “Lord, don’t You care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?  Tell her to help me!”

The way we see Jesus will affect the way we receive Him. In my own life, I saw Jesus as a Savior and a good God, which He is; however, I was receiving Him as a mother who needed to survive. My perception of the Savior was, “rescue me from this pain so that I don’t feel this pain anymore and, if you do, I will give You glory with my testimony.”  My perception of a good God was, “Your promises should come to pass (in my timing) so I can declare and show off how good My God is.” I received Jesus to escape the pain I was experiencing and be happy for the rest of my life.

Martha saw Jesus as a guest and she treated Him as such.  Mary saw Jesus as a teacher and she treated Him as such.  When Martha complained to Jesus, He said, “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.” To me, it seemed like Jesus was saying to Martha, the perception Mary has about Me is correct.  I’m here to teach you not to be your guest.

Jesus made it clear to me that He is in my life to be my Supernatural partner as I live out my part in His story.  This revelation has shifted how I see Jesus now.  Jesus is not just there to be a guest in my life, not just there to help me live pain free and comfortable, but there to be Lord of my whole life. During this week of Lent, as you listen to the song “Communion,” I would like for you to pay attention to the thoughts and feelings that come up for you.  According to the dictionary, communion means the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level.

Respond: What does communion with Jesus look like for you?  I would like to submit this challenge to you: ask Jesus where your perception of Him needs to shift. Wait for His answer.

by Pastor Adaobi Nduka