Activity vs. Identity
Over the last few months i’ve been revisiting the idea of what tree I am eating from. It’s either the Tree of Life or it’s the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 2 says, “Yahweh-God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work and watch over it. And Yahweh-God commanded him: “You may freely eat of every fruit of the garden. But you must not eat of the Tree that gives the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will most certainly die.”
Now, the Tree of Life represents Jesus, but the tree of knowledge of good and evil represents our endless pursuit of wisdom and God-likeness. One represents activity and the other represents resting.
I believe a lot of us have found ourselves looking for identity in our activities rather than in Christ which is where we are now.
Luke 10:38-42 in the Mirror Bible says this: As they continued on their way, they arrived at a country village where a woman with the name of Martha received them as guests in her house. She also had a sister, Miriam [Mary] who became glued to Jesus’ feet listening to his word. All this time, Martha however, was distracted by much serving; she became annoyed and walked up to where they were sitting and burst in on their conversation, saying, Lord, do you not care that my sister left me all this time to do all the work; tell her then to come and help me! Jesus answered her, Martha, Martha! You are occupied with anxious and troubled thoughts about many things! Those many things that clutter your mind are all very brief and of little importance compared to the one thing that outweighs them all! This one thing deserves your undivided attention - Mary has sourced her permanent portion in this beautiful conversation.
Like Martha, we place so much value on what we can do for Jesus that we don’t place any value on the finished work of Jesus. Martha had placed her value in all that she could do because there was no trust in her relationship with Abba. And without trust, we strive.
As a result of her dependence on her own efforts, her anxiety was put on such a heightened level, she couldn’t do anything but find assurance in her activity.
But Mary…
She rested. She found rest in the finished work of Jesus. Her assurance was found in Christ alone.
Even though Jesus hadn’t been crucified or resurrected yet, she saw Jesus for he truly was: The Lamb slain before the foundation for the world. (Rev. 13:8)
She knew what was necessary for her in that moment. Jesus was in her home. What else could she do!?
Beloved Identity will cause you to sit at the feet of Jesus, lock eyes with him, and trust even when there are a million other things buying for your attention.
When the revelation of righteousness takes root within you, you are whole enough to say, “Being with Abba is the most important thing and I won’t move until i’ve sat with Him.”
As i’ve sat and poured over the scriptures in Luke 10, I’ve come to the conclusion that Mary’s sitting at the feet of Jesus was not her posture. It was her life. It’s a way of living in and abiding in union daily. Mary’s eyes were forever locked on the King of Kings. And when one’s eyes are locked on Him, restlessness is cured.
Martha was worried about making sure everything was perfect for Jesus when all he wanted was her gaze. She wanted perfection, but perfection was already in the room reminding her of her perfection.
When the King has your heart, He will have your gaze.
Verse 39 says that Mary became glued to Jesus’ feet listening to his word. That glue glue that keeps us at the feet of Jesus is knowing who he is and knowing who we are in Christ. When Christ has our undivided attention, the anxieties of life will dissipate. They will fade. And Christ will become the most important focus of your life. And this union we were born for will blossom effortlessly.
How could we ever choose anything over union?
