“The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.” – Psalm 145:18 (NIV)
Closer is a word that describes how you want to relate to Him. When we seek Him the closer we want to be to Him. He becomes all we want.
Following Is an example of someone in the Bible that desired to be closer to Jesus. We only know her as Mary of Bethany. She had a sister named Martha and a brother named Lazarus. Bethany was a small village about a mile from Jerusalem. Jesus often stayed in their home.
Mary chose the best way to relate to Jesus. In the midst of all the preparation of having Him in their house, she did not rush around to make Him something to eat. She just sat at His feet. Getting as close to Him as she could and looking into His eyes. She did not want to miss a word He had to say.
She knew nothing about what was happening in the house. Martha came to Jesus and said, “Mary needs to come and help with the food preparation.” Jesus answered Martha and told her that Mary had chosen that which would last through eternity.
What a lesson to learn. He did not want all the fuss of getting Him food. He wanted someone who was willing to sit at His feet and listen.
Sometime later we read that Mary and Martha’s brother had died. Many friends had come to mourn his death. Mary was inside their house. Her sister came into the house and said to her, “The Master is here and He is asking for you.” Quickly she got up and went to find Jesus. She found Him and knelt at His feet and said, If You had been here he would not have died.”
In every mention of Mary in the Bible, we find her at the feet of Jesus. In the last incident, we find Mary again at the feet of Jesus with very expensive and fragrant oil that she is applying to the feet of Jesus. She then wipes His feet with her hair. Those in attendance say that this oil could have been sold. But Jesus defends her action and says she has done this in preparation for His burial.
What lesson can we learn from this woman? Why did she sit at the feet of Jesus? She was reprimanded for sitting at His feet and being close to Him.
Even though things were busy in her house, Mary knew that listening to Jesus was more important. She knew who He was.
Even though we too can have much to do and many distractions.
We can take the time to find a place where you can worship Him. We can tell Him how much we love Him. We can close our eyes and just imagine He is right there with us. As I did this, the song “Blessed assurance Jesus is mine. Oh what a foretaste of glory divine” came to my mind. I felt His presence all around me.
When we seek Him we will find Him and we can feel His closeness to us. We can sit at His feet and listen to Him even as Mary did.
Move your heart closer and closer to God and He will come even closer to you. James 4:8 TPT
Photography & Written by Joann Turnbull
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