Devoted, Not Distracted
What does it mean to know God? Maybe you think it’s involved in studying the Bible, analyzing its contexts, or in understanding His attributes like his unchangeability, His love, and His holiness. To be sure, these components of knowing God are important; in John 4:24, Jesus says that those who worship God must worship Him in spirit and in truth. Knowledge of God, which we most fully receive through Jesus and the Scriptures, leads to worship that glorifies Him (Hebrews 1:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 10:31). Yet Jesus defines what knowing God is in John 17:3:
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
Knowing God is eternal life. With this in mind, let’s take a look at the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42.
“Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 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.” 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.”
I find it interesting that Luke says Martha was distracted. In a culture where hospitality was valued and women were expected to help, it’s natural for Martha to feel upset at Mary for violating a social norm, according to the NLT Every Woman’s Bible. Yet listen to Jesus’ words. He gently – saying her name twice – reveals her heart, demonstrating care and attention as well as supernatural knowledge (1 Samuel 16:7). The one who knows all things invites us to learn from Him and know Him (Matthew 11:28-30; Isaiah 40:28). Then, He says, one thing is needed – to listen to God’s words and so know Him (Matthew 4:4; cf. Deuteronomy 8:3). Thus, he vindicates Mary. But why does Jesus say that sitting at Jesus’ feet and learning from him is necessary?
Consider the words of Jesus in another passage. He is a Teacher, a Rabbi, and even more uniquely, He is God incarnate. He is the one who is greater than Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived (Matthew 12:42). But the most important reason we as women listen to Jesus, the Son of God, is because this is how we live. It is by the word of God that we live. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God – the gospel (Romans 10:17). Do you want to have life now, and in the age to come (John 10:10; 1 Timothy 4:8)? Listen to God’s Son (Luke 9:35). God has spoken to us by Him, and He has revealed the path of life to us. Jesus Christ died on a criminal’s cross, the just for the unjust, and rose again so that we would experience eternal life (1 Peter 3:18; John 3:16)! Therefore, he can truly say that those who believe in Him may die, but they shall live, because He is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25)! Believing that God raised Jesus from the dead and confessing Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior (Romans 10:17) is the way (John 14:6) to eternal life.
When we listen to God and do what He says, we have life. We know the Truth (John 14:6) and are set free from lies, from being slaves of sin to daughters of God, and heirs of Him (Romans 8:17), provided we share in His suffering. It starts with an invitation from Jesus: Learn from me (Matthew 11:29).
Will you do so today? Let go of what distracts you from knowing Him, whether it’s social media, busyness, or anything else. He wants you to come to Him.
Resources for Knowing God
The Bible: It may sound basic, but truly, this is the clearest way by which we can know God. Pick a translation that is accurate and understandable for you, like the New Living Translation or the Christian Standard Bible.
Church: If you google for churches near you, you will find them, or you may have access to reference books that have listings with contact information. Pick a church that believes in the gospel as articulated throughout this site. Churches will have a statement of beliefs on their website that should be easily accessible, or you can call and ask what their beliefs are. Sitting under the teaching of a pastor who leads the church is a valuable way to increase your knowledge of God, as he may have studied the Bible formally in a seminary or Bible college and has been gifted by God to lead and serve the congregation.
Christian Media: Christian media can be a good way to be taught about God as it helps grow your faith by building you up. You will want to be careful to exercise good judgment by checking to make sure that what people say lines up with the Scripture because not everything that people communicate about God is true (Acts 17:11). Tirzah is one excellent example of Christian media in the form of writing, and there are other forms too. For music, check out New Release Today; for books, check out the author Tessa Afshar (she writes biblical historical fiction); for movies and TV, check out shows like House of David and The Chosen (based on the Scripture) as well as MovieGuide and PluggedIn for reviews of particular media.