Embracing a Life Oriented Around God's Word
Embracing a Life Oriented Around God's Word
Daily Reflection: Micah 2:7 - 12/1/2023
“Do not my words do good to the one whose ways are upright?” — Micah 2:7
“Our failure to hear His voice when we want to,” says Dallas Willard, “is due to the fact that we do not, in general, want to hear it, that we want it only when we think we need it.”
Such has been the case throughout human history. God’s word, which is always true, good, dependable, etc., gets turned into something that is sought after to suit our plans and agendas. When we do this, we may maintain a semblance of a relationship with God, for He wants to be with us so much that He will condescend to our limited understanding of Him to do so. But there is a better way.
Mary and Martha have been pitted against one another because of what took place at a dinner party they threw for Jesus and His disciples. As the story goes, Martha busied herself with the preparations for the food — she wanted to serve Jesus by doing something for Him. Mary, on the other hand, served Him by sitting at His feet and listening to His word.
A frustrated Martha pleaded with Jesus to tell Mary to help her! In other words, she wanted Him to use His words to get what she wanted. She recognized that His word had power, but only when she needed it.
Jesus said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).
The one thing necessary was to listen to His teaching — His word. This realization comes when one recognizes who is speaking. Mary did, and so she gave Jesus what He wanted: her attention. When someone is speaking, what they want the most is for someone to listen.
When we orient our lives around the word of the Lord, listening not merely when we think we can be benefited by His word, but being attentive to Him whenever He speaks, we can be sure that our lives will begin to take the shape of His word. For His word has creative power. Even when what He is saying goes against our desires, we can trust that, because of who He is, we can trust His word over our deepest inclination, and in doing so, we will be established in righteousness.
Heavenly Father, your words are good and do good. We are thankful to have been made recipients of your word. Grant that we, having been given access to your voice, might give you our full attention, that our lives might take the shape of your word. In Jesus' name. Amen.
