Today, you can have many things – success, money, and possessions. But the most valuable thing you can ever have, and must treasure above all, is God’s presence in your life.
Without His presence, everything we achieve and own feels empty. True fulfilment comes when He is at the centre of it all.
What Is God’s Presence?
The popular children’s story of Winnie the Pooh illustrates this beautifully. In the story, Piglet asks Winnie, “How do you spell love?” Winnie replies, “You don’t spell it; you feel it.”
God’s presence is the same. It’s something you experience, not just understand with your mind. God is always with us, but we experience Him in a deeper way when we are aware of Him. Just like we exercise to stay physically fit, we must also train ourselves to be more aware of God’s presence in our daily lives.
1 Timothy 4:8 NKJV “For bodily exercise pro-fits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.”
The more we focus on Him, the easier it becomes to recognize His voice and presence.
Recognizing God’s Presence
Many people worry about being deceived by false things, but Jesus showed us the best way to recognize the truth, by focusing on God.
There’s a story of a young woman who worked in a bank. She was afraid of accepting counterfeit money by mistake. For a whole month, her manager made her count real money every day.
When she asked to be shown fake money, he told her, “Just keep counting.” One day, while counting money, she noticed something felt different. It was counterfeit.
The lesson? When we focus on what is real – God and His presence – we will naturally recognize what is false. Jesus always focused on the Father and not on the enemy’s plans.
John 5:19 NKJV “Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.”
Living in God’s Presence
Luke 10:42 NKJV “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
To dwell in God’s presence means to make Him the most important priority in your life. Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen the better part by sitting at His feet and listening to Him. Just like Mary, we must choose to spend time with Jesus over the busyness of life.
The Holy Spirit: God’s Presence in Us
As believers, we carry God’s presence everywhere we go. The Holy Spirit dwells in us, making our bodies a temple for Him.
1 Corinthians 3:16 NKJV “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”
God’s presence is the greatest treasure we can have. It gives us peace, joy, guidance, and transformation.
The Better Choice: Sitting with Jesus
Luke 10:38-42 (NKJV) “Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. [39] And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. [40] 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.” [41] And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. [42] But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
The story of Mary and Martha in the Bible teaches us an important lesson about what really matters in life.
These two sisters both loved Jesus, but they showed it in different ways. One focused on doing things for Him, while the other focused on being with Him.
One day, Jesus came to visit Mary and Martha at their home. Martha was very busy preparing food and serving, while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to Him. Martha wanted everything to be perfect for Jesus, but she became frustrated when Mary didn’t help her.
What Can We Learn from Mary and Martha?
- Spending time with Jesus is most important.
Mary chose to sit with Jesus and listen to His words. She knew that spending time with Him was the most important thing.
Sometimes, we get too busy with work, family, daily tasks, and even ministry, just like Martha. But Jesus wants us to slow down and focus on Him. - Being busy can distract us.
Martha wasn’t doing anything wrong – she was serving Jesus! But she was so busy that she missed the chance to enjoy His presence.
In life, we can get so busy trying to do everything right that we forget to enjoy time with God. - Jesus gives us peace.
Martha was worried and upset, but Mary was calm and at peace. Sitting with Jesus helps us feel peace in our hearts, even when life is busy.
The Better Part: Pursuing Jesus Above All
Ultimately, the “better part” that Mary chose wasn’t just an action. It was Jesus Himself.
Colossians 3:2 NKJV “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
Mary’s example encourages us to set our focus on eternal things, prioritising Jesus above all else. In a world that is obsessed with productivity and performance, we are invited to embrace simplicity and sit at His feet.
Will you choose the Better Part?
Jesus said that Mary made the better choice, and it would never be taken away from her. This reminds us that time spent with Jesus is never wasted. It is an investment in eternity.
Jesus’ invitation to Martha is the same for us today. He gently calls us away from distractions, worries, and the pressure to perform and invites us to choose the better part – Him.
May we, like Mary, choose the better part, seeking Him first and finding true fulfilment in His presence. He is worth it! (NADIA NEL)