One Will Sit, and One Will Stand

“Why prepare a place for the Lord, and when He comes, we’re busy?” –
Pastor Ebony Bryant

Scripture tells us that Jesus visited Martha’s home often, but she was so busy preparing and serving that she missed the visitation of the Almighty God (standing). While Mary, who helped at one point, stopped and sat at Jesus’ feet to be ministered to (sitting). Mary knew that if she missed what Jesus had to say, His visit would be in vain.

Today, we too are often so busy doing the work of “ministry” that we fail to spend time with Jesus. We are pulled and dragged in different directions, frustrated and not realizing that Jesus has arrived to spend time with us. We then get upset when someone else takes the same opportunity that we’ve been afforded, as Mary did to sit and listen to Jesus.

The balance between standing and sitting comes when those standing choose to sit, not blaming anyone else or God for the situation we’ve created (busyness), and those sitting choose to stand with the knowledge gained by being with Jesus.

Martha represents those who see and prepare the nations. Although they can be distracted by serving, they are far from disqualified. They are visionaries, builders, see far down the road, and are burdened by outreach. However, they must be rooted in God’s presence and not the pressure of what needs to be done by returning to Jesus’ feet.

Mary represents those called to the church house. They are submitted, hungry, sensitive, stewards of the church house, close enough to God to discern His heart for His people, and the spiritual temperature of the church. However, they must not just sit, but lace up their boots, put on their backpack, and go.

“God is calling those who sit to go, and those who stand to sit at His feet. The season has changed.” – Pastor Ebony Bryant