Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." - Luke 10:38-42 NASU

Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  "You are witnesses of these things. "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." - Luke 24:45-49 NASU

First, sit at the feet of Jesus every day before heading out to serve the world. Too often, we get up too early. We think we got it. We believe we can do it. And up to serve, we go, only to find we can’t finish the shift without frustration and pointing fingers at all the people that could be helping but are not.

We are only equipped to serve according to our sitting and receiving from Jesus. To the one who is forgiven much, loves much. To the one who is forgiven, little loves little. The longer and more often we sit at the feet of Jesus, the more His love will affect our being. And it is not about a marathon or a binge sitting but a day-to-day, every day sitting that will cause us to be filled with His love able to serve one another.

It is better to give than receive, but we can only give what we have received in return. The chosen part and the good part are what we have received from Jesus. This part cannot be taken away from us if we stay long enough to receive it.

But if we get up too early to serve, frustration will surely take away our peace as it did Martha. We also need to be careful and not get caught up in all our work for the Lord, lest we forget what He has done for us. At the end of the age, there is a multitude left on the outside of the kingdom demanding to be let in for all the things they did in His name. We are not saved by the things we do in the name of Jesus. We are saved by His work on the cross. On the cross, it was finished. Christ is sufficient. Our works in His name add nothing to the work on the cross. Our work is a response of gratitude and service to Him.

It takes time for our minds to be open to understand Scripture. We think we know until we get in a tight spot that makes us wonder if it works. We left the feet of Jesus too early.

Jesus told some five hundred-plus disciples to stay in the city until they were clothed with power from on high. But most did not heed the command and were not clothed with high power for the day. They went in their own natural and human strength. Later, in the book of Acts, we see several occasions where people were saved because they believed in the work of Jesus on the cross but unaware of The Holy Spirit and power to do the work of the ministry.

First things first, sit at the feet of Jesus every day. This must be dedicated time. No multitasking. Praying in the car to work is good and beneficial, but it is not the same. You must set aside time to give God your full attention. A time to read the unleavened Word of God (save the sermons for another time), fast and pray, or thanksgiving and worship. Allow the Holy Spirit to set the agenda.

The more you set aside dedicated time to sit at the feet of Jesus, the more grace you will have throughout the day. The more the gifts of the spirit will activate. The more you will discern the Father’s business for the day. The more your mind will be renewed to God, the more an internal transformation will occur. No more conformity to the world. No more conformity to dead faith and religion. No more frustration trying to do the work of the ministry in your strength without help from God or others.