A call to love and serve 

There is a call upon every believer’s life, a summons from heaven that cannot be ignored. It is the quiet but insistent voice of the Holy Spirit, gently reminding us that we are not our own. We were bought at a price, redeemed not with silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ, a Lamb without blemish or defect (1 Peter 1:18-19). Yet, so often, we find ourselves distracted, caught up in the affairs of life, weighed down by burdens we were never meant to carry. We strive, we labour, and we press forward, but in doing so, we sometimes forget the most important thing—His presence.

Martha learned this the hard way. She was busy, always serving, always preparing, always making sure everything was just right. Meanwhile, Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, drinking in His words, resting in His presence. Martha was frustrated. She complained to the Lord, asking Him to intervene, to rebuke Mary for not helping. But Jesus responded with words that still echo through the ages: "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:41-42).

How many of us are caught in the same trap? We confuse activity with intimacy. We assume that our busyness for God is the same as being with God. We take pride in our service, in our faithfulness to duty, yet we miss the very heart of the gospel—Jesus Himself. The truth is, our greatest calling is not to work for Him but to be with Him. When we learn to sit at His feet, to listen, to abide, everything else falls into place.

This is not to say that we are called to a life of idleness, far from it. The kingdom of God requires labourers, not spectators. But there is a profound difference between striving in our own strength and serving out of the overflow of His presence. When we learn to rest in Him, our work becomes anointed, our efforts bear fruit, and we move not in our own power but in His.

Many struggle with this concept because we have been conditioned to believe that results are the measure of success. We have adopted a mindset of production rather than presence. We chase after achievements, accolades, and affirmations, hoping that in doing so, we will earn God’s favour. But the gospel is not about earning; it is about receiving. It is not about proving ourselves; it is about knowing Him.

This is the heart of what Paul meant when he said, "I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:8). Nothing else compares. Nothing else matters. To know Him—truly know Him—is the highest calling, the greatest treasure, the ultimate prize.

Perhaps you find yourself weary today, burdened by expectations, weighed down by responsibilities. Maybe you have been striving for so long that you have forgotten what it means to simply sit in His presence. Hear His invitation anew: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). This is not a rest that comes from ceasing all activity but a rest that is found in Him—a rest that sustains, strengthens, and renews.

It is time to let go of the striving, the endless pursuit of more, and return to the simplicity of devotion. It is time to choose what Mary chose. It is time to sit at His feet. Because in the end, when all is said and done, the only thing that will truly matter is whether we knew Him. Everything else—our achievements, our titles, our successes—will fade. But those who abide in Him will remain.

This is the invitation before us. This is the call. Will we answer? Will we surrender? Will we lay down our busyness for the sake of His presence? The choice is ours. But as Jesus said, Mary chose what is better, and it was not taken from her. Those who seek Him will find Him. And those who find Him will lack nothing.