Created for Connection From the Very Beginning

Long before the church existed, God looked at His creation and said something was not good — and it wasn’t sin, it wasn’t suffering. It was aloneness. That truth runs all the way through Scripture into the New Testament, where God doesn’t just invite us into relationship with Himself, but weaves us together into something beautiful called the Body of Christ.

The Apostle Paul paints one of the most vivid pictures of this in his letter to the Corinthians:

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 12:12 (ESV)

Think about that for a moment. You are a member of a body. Not a spectator, not an audience member — a functioning, necessary, irreplaceable part. The eye can’t say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” Neither can you say that to the person sitting two rows ahead of you on Sunday morning. We need each other in ways we don’t always realize until we’re in a season of struggle and someone shows up at exactly the right moment.

What Community Actually Does for Our Souls

Christian community isn’t just about Sunday small talk and potluck dinners — though honestly, there’s nothing wrong with either of those things. Real community does something transformative in us. Proverbs puts it simply but powerfully:

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” — Proverbs 27:17 (ESV)

We grow sharper, stronger, and more like Christ when we do life alongside other believers. Someone else’s faith encourages yours on the days yours feels thin. Someone else’s testimony reminds you that God is still moving. Someone else’s honest, loving challenge helps you see the blind spot you couldn’t see on your own.

And when we’re hurting? Community becomes something even more profound — it becomes the tangible love of God with skin on. Paul tells us plainly:

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2 (ESV)

Carrying each other’s burdens isn’t a suggestion — it’s described as fulfilling the very law of Christ. That’s how seriously God takes our responsibility to one another.

The Danger of Drifting Away

We live in a culture that celebrates self-sufficiency. We can stream church, follow Christian podcasts, and build an entire “faith life” that never requires us to sit across from another person. And while those things have real value, they can’t replace embodied, present, committed community. The writer of Hebrews clearly saw this temptation coming:

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” — Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)

There’s a gentle urgency in those words. All the more as the days grow harder, as the world grows louder, as faith costs something — we need each other more, not less. Drifting from community rarely happens all at once. It’s usually a slow fade, one skipped gathering at a time, until one day we look up and realize we’re carrying everything alone again.

Practical Ways to Lean Into Community This Week

So what does this actually look like on a Tuesday afternoon? Here are a few simple, honest ways to invest in your church family:

Show up consistently. Presence is powerful. Your being there matters more than you know to the people around you.

Join a small group. Sunday mornings are wonderful, but real community happens in smaller circles where you can actually be known.

Let someone in. Risk vulnerability with a trusted brother or sister. You might be surprised — they’re probably carrying something too.

Be someone’s “iron.” Reach out to encourage, check in, or simply pray for someone in your congregation this week. A text, a note, a coffee — it all counts.

You Belong Here

If you’ve been feeling lonely in your faith lately, or like you’re on the outside looking in, I want you to hear this clearly and warmly: you belong in this Body. God placed you here on purpose, with gifts the rest of us genuinely need. Community might feel risky or uncomfortable at first, but on the other side of that risk is something rich — people who will walk with you through the hardest chapters of your life and celebrate with you in the best ones. Don’t settle for a faith lived in isolation when God has set a whole table for you.

You were made for this. Step toward it.

—

A Simple Prayer:

Lord, thank You for placing me in a Body and not leaving me to walk alone. Forgive me for the times I’ve pulled away or convinced myself I didn’t need others. Help me to show up — really show up — for the people around me, and give me the courage to let them show up for me too. Knit us together in love that reflects You to a watching world. Amen.

The post You Were Never Meant to Do This Alone: The Gift of Christian Community appeared first on Sanctum Blog.

The Anxiety We All Know Too Well

Anxiety doesn’t always announce itself dramatically. Sometimes it’s the low hum of dread that follows you into the morning. It’s the mental tab you can never quite close — the one running through worst-case scenarios while you’re trying to fall asleep. It’s that tight feeling in your chest when your phone rings unexpectedly.

What’s remarkable is that the Bible doesn’t dismiss this experience or shame us for it. The Psalms are filled with raw, aching honesty about fear and uncertainty. Even the Apostle Paul, writing from a Roman prison, acknowledged the weight of human struggle. Scripture meets us in our real lives — not our polished, Sunday-morning lives, but our Tuesday-night, can’t-stop-worrying lives.

And into that very real struggle, God speaks directly.

An Invitation, Not a Command to Just “Calm Down”

One of the most beloved passages on anxiety is found in Philippians 4. Paul writes with remarkable gentleness:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:6-7

Notice that Paul doesn’t say, “Stop being so anxious — what’s wrong with you?” He offers a pathway. Prayer. Supplication. Thanksgiving. These aren’t just religious rituals to check off a list — they are the act of turning toward God with everything you’re carrying. The promise that follows is stunning: a peace that surpasses all understanding. That means it doesn’t have to make logical sense. It doesn’t require your circumstances to change first. It guards your heart and mind like a sentinel standing watch.

That’s not wishful thinking. That’s a promise from the God who keeps every one of them.

Casting, Not Carrying

Peter offers us another beautiful image of what God longs to do with our anxiety:

“Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7

The word “cast” is active and intentional — like throwing a heavy rope to someone on solid ground when you’re drowning. God isn’t asking you to manage your anxiety more effectively. He’s inviting you to release it to Him. And the reason He gives is breathtakingly personal: because He cares for you. Not because you’ve earned it, not because you’ve got your faith all together — but simply because He loves you.

Jesus himself spoke tenderly to anxious hearts in the Sermon on the Mount, pointing to birds and wildflowers as evidence of the Father’s faithful care:

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ … But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” — Matthew 6:31, 33

The antidote to anxiety, Jesus says, is seeking Him first — not solving every problem first, not achieving security first, but orienting your whole life around His kingdom and trusting that He holds the rest.

Practical Ways to Cultivate Peace Today

So what does this look like on a regular Tuesday? Here are a few grounded, practical ways to walk in the peace Christ offers:

Start your morning with Scripture before the noise begins. Even five minutes with God’s Word before checking your phone can reorient your heart around truth rather than the day’s anxieties.

Practice “prayer journaling” your worries. Instead of just circling your fears mentally, write them down as prayers — literally handing each one to God on paper. Many people find this act of externalization deeply freeing.

Memorize Philippians 4:6-7. Hide it in your heart so that when anxiety flares up, you have a living word ready to speak back to the fear.

Find a trusted friend or community. Peace grows in community. Don’t carry your anxiety in isolation — the body of Christ is designed to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).

Remember: seeking help is not lack of faith. Counseling, therapy, and medical care are gifts from a God who created wisdom and healing. Pursuing help is an act of stewardship, not weakness.

You Were Made for Peace

Friend, anxiety may feel familiar right now, but it was never meant to be your permanent address. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). The peace He offers isn’t the world’s version — fragile, circumstantial, and fleeting. It’s a peace rooted in who He is, and it has your name on it.

You don’t have to have it all figured out. You don’t have to stop feeling anxious before coming to Him. You can come exactly as you are, right now, and find that He is already there — steady, caring, and more than enough for whatever you’re facing today.

Let’s pray together:

Lord, thank You that You already know every worry I’m carrying today. I don’t want to hold onto these things anymore — I’m choosing right now to cast them onto You, trusting that You care for me. Fill me with the peace that only You can give, the kind that doesn’t depend on my circumstances being perfect. Guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus. Help me to seek You first today, and remind me throughout this day that I am held by You. Amen.

The post When Worry Feels Like Home: Finding Real Peace in a Restless World appeared first on Sanctum Blog.

Prayer Is a Relationship, Not a Routine

The first thing we need to settle is what prayer actually is. It’s not a formula. It’s not a magic spell. It’s not even primarily about getting things from God. At its core, prayer is simply coming to your Father. Jesus made this beautifully clear when He taught His disciples how to pray, opening with those two intimate words: “Our Father.” That’s not accidental language. That’s an invitation into relationship.

The apostle Paul captured the spirit of this when he wrote to the church in Philippi:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:6-7

Notice that Paul doesn’t say prayer will always change your circumstances. He says it will guard your heart and mind. That’s the relationship at work — not a vending machine, but a Father who meets you in the middle of the mess and brings a peace that simply doesn’t make logical sense.

What Happens When We Actually Pray

Here’s something remarkable: the Bible consistently shows us that prayer doesn’t just change our situation — it changes us. When Elijah prayed on Mount Carmel, fire fell from heaven. When Hezekiah prayed on his sickbed, God extended his life. When the early church prayed together in Acts, the very building shook and people were filled with the Holy Spirit. These aren’t fairy tales. These are testimonies of a God who is actively listening and actively responding to the prayers of His people.

Jesus himself was direct about this promise:

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” — Matthew 7:7-8

This isn’t a blank check for every wish on our list. It’s a deeply reassuring promise that God is not indifferent to your prayers. He hears. He responds. He is a good Father who gives good gifts to His children.

Making Prayer Real in Your Daily Life

So how do we move from knowing prayer is important to actually doing it — and doing it in a way that feels alive rather than obligatory? Here are a few practical anchors that have helped so many believers make prayer a genuine part of their everyday rhythm:

Start small and start honest. You don’t need elaborate words or a perfectly quiet room. Just talk to God like you’d talk to a trusted friend. Tell Him what’s really going on. He already knows anyway — but there’s something powerful about you saying it out loud.

Pray the Scriptures. When you don’t know what to say, borrow the words of the Bible. The Psalms especially are a treasure chest for this. Praying passages like Psalm 23 or Psalm 46 out loud can anchor your soul on even the hardest mornings.

Pray throughout the day, not just at designated times. Paul’s instruction to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) isn’t about being on your knees 24 hours a day — it’s about cultivating a constant awareness of God’s presence. A whispered prayer in traffic. Gratitude over your lunch. A quiet “Lord, help me” before a difficult conversation. These moments matter deeply.

Keep a prayer journal. Writing down your prayers — and recording the answers — builds your faith in a tangible way. When you can flip back and see how God has moved, doubt doesn’t get as much space to grow.

When Prayer Feels Hard

Let’s be real: there will be seasons when prayer feels like shouting into the void. When God seems silent. When the thing you’ve been praying about for years still hasn’t changed. In those moments, hold onto this:

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” — Romans 8:26

You are never praying alone. Even when you’re too tired or too broken to find the words, the Holy Spirit is praying on your behalf. That truth should take a weight off your shoulders you didn’t even know you were carrying.

Friend, prayer is not something you have to perfect before it becomes powerful. It becomes powerful the moment you show up honestly before a God who loves you completely. Whether you’re just beginning to build a prayer life or you’re looking to go deeper, take one small step today. Open your hands, open your heart, and just start talking. God is listening — He always has been.

Let’s pray together: Lord, thank You that You don’t require fancy words or perfect faith — just a willing heart. Teach us to pray with honesty, with trust, and with the confidence that You truly hear us. Draw us closer to You with every conversation, and let prayer become the most natural thing we do each day. We love You. Amen.

The post More Than Words: Discovering the Transforming Power of Prayer in Your Everyday Life appeared first on Sanctum Blog.

Faith Was Never Meant to Be a Roadmap

We live in a GPS world. We want step-by-step directions, arrival time estimates, and rerouting the moment something goes wrong. So it can feel deeply unsettling when God doesn’t operate that way. But here’s the truth the Bible has always been honest about: faith, by its very nature, involves the unknown.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” — Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)

That word conviction is powerful. It means a settled confidence — not a feeling, but a stance. Faith isn’t pretending the fog isn’t there. It’s choosing to walk forward anyway because you trust the God who stands on the other side of it. Think of Abraham, who left his homeland without knowing where he was going (Hebrews 11:8). He didn’t have a plan — he had a Person. And that made all the difference.

God’s Word is Light Enough for the Next Step

One of the most comforting images in all of Scripture comes from the Psalms. David, a man who knew what it felt like to be hunted, confused, and desperate for direction, wrote these words:

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” — Psalm 119:105 (ESV)

Notice what he didn’t say. He didn’t say God’s Word is a floodlight that illuminates the entire road ahead. It’s a lamp to your feet — just enough light for the next step. In ancient times, travelers used small oil lamps that lit only a foot or two ahead. God, in His wisdom, often gives us exactly that: enough light to take the next faithful step, not the whole journey at once.

Practically, this means: Are you in God’s Word regularly? Not as a magic 8-ball for decisions, but as a daily source of wisdom and intimacy with the One guiding you? Sometimes the clarity we’re desperately searching for on the horizon is actually waiting for us in the quiet of Scripture each morning.

Trust Isn’t Passive — It’s an Active Choice

There’s a verse that gets quoted often, and for good reason. But don’t let its familiarity make you miss its weight:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” — Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

This is an active invitation. Trust with all your heart. Acknowledge Him in all your ways. This isn’t passive waiting — it’s prayerful, deliberate engagement with God in the middle of the uncertainty. It means bringing your questions to Him honestly. It means praying before the decision, not just after things go sideways. It means surrounding yourself with wise, godly community who can speak truth into your situation.

And notice the promise: he will make straight your paths. Not necessarily easy paths. Not always fast paths. But paths that are guided by a faithful God who wastes nothing.

When the Path Stays Unclear — He Is Still Good

Sometimes we do all the right things — we pray, we seek counsel, we search Scripture — and the fog still doesn’t fully lift. In those moments, we have to anchor ourselves to the character of God rather than the clarity of our circumstances. Paul, writing from a prison cell, somehow penned these words:

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” — Romans 8:28 (ESV)

All things. Not just the comfortable things. Not just the things we understand. God is weaving a story far bigger than our current chapter, and He is trustworthy with every thread — even the tangled ones.

So if you’re in a season of uncertainty today, take heart. Keep showing up. Keep praying. Keep taking the next faithful step that’s in front of you, even if it’s small. God is not confused about your life, even when you are. His faithfulness has never once depended on our ability to see clearly. He led His people through the wilderness with a pillar of fire — and He is just as present with you now, in your fog, in your waiting, in your not-yet-knowing.

You don’t need to see the whole path. You just need to trust the One who built it.

A Prayer for the Uncertain Road:

Lord, the path ahead feels unclear, and honestly — that’s hard. But You are not unclear. You are good, You are faithful, and You see exactly where I am and where I’m going. Give me the courage to take the next step by faith, and the peace to trust You with everything I cannot yet see. I love You, and I choose to trust You today. Amen.

The post When You Can’t See the Next Step: Walking by Faith on the Uncertain Road appeared first on Sanctum Blog.

Grace Isn’t the Absence of Struggle — It’s God’s Presence Within It

We sometimes have this idea that if God’s grace is real, life should feel manageable. But the Bible paints a very different picture. The Apostle Paul — a man who was shipwrecked, beaten, imprisoned, and exhausted — wrote some of the most grace-filled words in all of Scripture. When he begged God to remove a painful “thorn in the flesh,” here is what God said to him:

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9

Did you catch that? God didn’t remove the struggle. He met Paul inside it and said, “My grace is enough.” That word “sufficient” in the original Greek means fully adequate — not barely enough, but completely, wholly enough. Whatever you are facing today, God’s grace is not running thin. It is fully adequate for this moment, for this pain, for this exact season of your life.

He Sees You When You’re Worn Out

One of my favorite portraits of grace in the Bible is the story of Elijah under the juniper tree in 1 Kings 19. This was a man who had just witnessed a miraculous victory from God — and then completely fell apart. He ran into the wilderness, collapsed, and said, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life.” He was depleted. Finished. Done. And what did God do? He didn’t lecture him. He didn’t shame him. He sent an angel to bring him fresh bread and water and said simply:

“Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” — 1 Kings 19:7

That is such a tender picture of grace. God acknowledged that Elijah was carrying something heavy. He didn’t minimize it — He nourished him for it. Friend, if you are worn out today, God sees it. He is not disappointed in you for being tired. He is leaning in with bread for the journey.

Grace That Holds You When You Can’t Hold On

One of the most comforting truths in all of Scripture is this — our grip on God is never what holds us. His grip on us is. The prophet Isaiah captures this beautifully when God speaks these words to His people in a season of national despair:

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” — Isaiah 41:10

Notice all the “I will” statements. The initiative is entirely God’s. He strengthens. He helps. He upholds. Our job in hard seasons isn’t to manufacture enough faith to hold everything together — it’s to trust the One who is already holding us.

Practical Ways to Receive God’s Grace Today

Grace is a gift, but like any gift, it has to be received. Here are a few honest, practical ways to open your hands to God’s grace in the middle of your struggle:

1. Tell God the truth. Don’t dress up your prayers. Elijah didn’t. The Psalms certainly didn’t. God can handle your honest cry far better than your polished performance.

2. Stay connected to community. Galatians 6:2 calls us to “bear one another’s burdens.” Isolation is the enemy of grace. Let someone walk beside you.

3. Return to Scripture slowly. Not as a checklist, but as a conversation. Let God’s words speak into your specific pain. The Bible is alive, and it will meet you where you are.

4. Receive small mercies as grace. A meal from a friend, a moment of unexpected peace, a song that settles your heart — these are not coincidences. They are God saying, I see you.

You Are Going to Make It

I don’t know the shape of your struggle right now, but I know the shape of God’s grace — and it is bigger. He has carried His people through impossible things for thousands of years, and He has not changed. The same God who met Paul in weakness, who nourished Elijah in burnout, who spoke courage to Isaiah’s brokenhearted people — He is your God too. And His grace is sufficient. Not eventually. Now. Right where you are, in the middle of the hard thing, He is enough.

Hang on, friend. You are more held than you know.

—

A Simple Prayer: Lord, I won’t pretend today is easy. You already know it isn’t. But I choose right now to trust that Your grace is enough for this moment, this day, this season. Strengthen me where I am weak, hold me where I am slipping, and help me to feel how close You really are. I love You. Amen.

The post When You’re Barely Holding On: Finding God’s Grace in the Hard Seasons appeared first on Sanctum Blog.

Grace is a meaningful concept that is particularly meaningful to those who follow Christ. Because of Grace, our fallen nature and sinful behavior no longer form a barrier between us and God. He bestows His grace upon us without merit – meaning we don’t deserve it and can’t do anything to attain it.

We have received the favor of this apostleship that is grace and a fitness for it that is truth. We have received grace for grace. All that we receive in Christ is summed up in this one word, grace we have received even grace, so great a gift, so rich, so invaluable we have received no less than grace this is a gift to be spoken of with an emphasis. It is repeated, grace for grace for to every stone in this building, as well as to the top-stone.

It is grace the good will of God towards us, and the good work of God in us. God’s good will works the good work, and then the good work qualifies us for further tokens of his good will. As the cistern receives water from the fulness of the fountain, the branches sap from the fulness of the root, and the air light from the fulness of the sun, so we receive grace from the fulness of Christ. It is grace to us for the sake of grace to Jesus Christ. God was well pleased in him, and he’s therefore well pleased with us in him, It is a blessing poured out, that there shall not be room to receive it. We are not straitened in the grace of Christ, if we be not straitened in our own bosoms.

Grace for grace is grace for the promoting and advancing of grace. Grace to be  exercised by ourselves gracious habits for gracious acts. Grace to be ministered to others, gracious vouch statements for gracious performances: grace is a talent to be traded with. The apostles received grace (Romans 1:5; Ephesians 3:8), that they might communicate it, 1 Peter 4:10. The grace we receive from Christ changes us into the same image (2 Corinthians 3:18), the image of the Son (Romans 8:29), the image of the heavenly  (1 Corinthians 15:49).

Yet God’s Grace is offered to us free of charge. All we have to do is ask for it. His grace is available to us when we are not yet believers in Christ but ask earnestly for Him to enter our hearts, and it’s available to us each time we fail but honestly seek His forgiveness. And God’s Grace never runs out. We can never approach God for grace and hear Him answer, “Sorry, but you have used up your allotment of grace.” He continually offers us His abundant, overflowing, undeserved, amazing grace.

The Bible assures us that we have been saved by grace; it is not our actions or our circumstances that brings us salvation. But a personal encounter with the Crucified does. Let’s live in light of the freeing power of God’s unmerited grace in our lives.

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Matthew 25:40

“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to Me.’”

Halleluyah!

Jesus was a practical teacher. He lived as he taught, demonstrating the culture of God’s kingdom. Often times we think of the kingdom of God as a place of eternal bliss, where all our needs are met, a place with no worries and no struggles. While this is an understanding we share about the kingdom, we cannot make the mistake of thinking we exist in a mindless state in the kingdom of God. The eternal bliss that is the kingdom of God, where all our needs are met, where worries and struggles don’t exist is due to the fact that we now exist in a kingdom where we perpetually demonstrate the culture of God’s kingdom. In the kingdom we truly love one another, support one another, a place where we do not plot against each other and do things for each other for advantage or selfish gain. Can you imagine such a kingdom? Can you imagine what the accomplishments would be? That is the kingdom of God.

Matthew 25: 32-46 begins with a separation of sheep and goats. The story is of those deciding to DO works of righteousness especially to the least. The hungry, the thirsty, the naked, and the prisoners, are categorical examples of society’s least. They are the types most of us don’t spend much time thinking about let alone being around. Nevertheless, they exist and are with us every day. Jesus is explicit that when we do righteous works concerning the least of his brethren, we do it to him and are rewarded with eternal life but those who refuse to help the least are dismissed by Christ and banished into everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46). Why? The reason is because the kingdom of God IS righteousness (Romans 14:17) and is made so because of the type of persons who dwell there. Therefore, it will only accommodate those who desire and demonstrate righteous acts. The kingdom of God is not just a habitation; it’s a habitation for those with habits of righteousness.

God is the king of righteousness and Christ is our righteousness and we his people must abide and bear the fruit of his righteousness. Jesus said in John 15:2,

“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away…”

The believer knows that the kingdom of God starts right here on earth by abiding in Jesus Christ and bearing fruit in him. To bear fruit in Jesus Christ is to DO the works of righteousness.

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I was thinking specifically of Luke chapter 10:38-42. Jesus is in Bethany where Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived. Jesus is speaking at their house and Mary sits at Jesus’ feet hearing and listening to his words. Martha on the other hand is busy with food hospitality and complains to Jesus that Mary has abandoned the duty of serving and relinquished the responsibility to her alone. A complaint that seems valid however Jesus always in spirit says, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed and Mary has chosen the good part.” Some translations say “better” or “best” part.

What is the best part? It is choosing to follow Jesus above any and everything else. Mary sitting at the master’s feet is a spot reserved for disciples. Mary at Jesus’ feet is a symbol of discipleship. Mary abandoned what would seem very important to us like serving food and other hospitable acts. Make no mistake these are very important practices, however, knowing Jesus is more important. His words are more important. Loving him, listening, and being nearer to him is more important.

In another event recorded in Mark 14:6-9, Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with expensive oil and there’s complaint that the oil would’ve served a better purpose being sold and the proceeds given to the poor. Jesus said,

…She has done a good work for me. For you have the poor with you always and whenever you wish you may do them good but Me you do not have always.

Jesus again makes the point that while charitable acts are important and good, HE is more important. Loving him is more important. We sometimes substitute charitable and hospitable works as loving Christ. While that is true, it is true to a degree. Greater still is learning at the master’s feet, having the desire for him and his words, loving him and following him. This is the heart of a disciple of Christ, to go wherever the master leads, to listen when the master speaks. We accomplish this by making time to read and study the word of God. The word of God is Jesus. By reading it, we know him more. And though acts of charity and hospitality matter very much, knowing Jesus by hearing his word is the best part.

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So Christ instructs Ananias to visit Saul and restore his sight. Here’s where it gets interesting. Ananias having heard of Saul and his reputation for persecuting and executing followers of Christ notifies The Lord of Saul’s reputation as a hit man for the chief priests. Information of course The Lord is already aware of. Nevertheless, Ananias’ concern is genuine. Saul’s predicament to many would seem as divine retribution or his comeuppance for his violent acts towards God’s people. However, Jesus had a different plan.

Christ says to Ananias in Romans 9 verse 15, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear my name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.”

It would surprise us the type of people the Lord has chosen to be his vessel. God does not reason the way man does, nor does HE see as man sees. A wayward child, a violent criminal, an abuser, a degenerate, or anyone we condemn as dregs of society are not beyond the saving grace of Jesus Christ. We have a duty to pray for those who we deem the worst in character that the Lord should encounter, deliver, and use them. There are numerous testimonies of men and women of once diabolical character coming to know Jesus. These lives were transformed by Christ and very much like Saul of Tarsus, were chosen to become HIS vessel.

Halleluyah!

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