Healing Rays of Righteousness

“Sit, look, listen.”  These are the first lessons taught in dog obedience training. Before any training for doing competitive activity or tricks can happen, the dog must first learn to sit, look, and listen on command.

When we took our young puppy for obedience training, the first activity was to train her to “sit” at attention, which meant training her to “look into my eyes.”  At first this was a useless effort, but slowly the “sit” and “look” commands were obeyed. Only after this training expectation was accomplished did the training toward “doing” dog things become possible.

And neither does living the Christian life begin with our “doing” witness or mission. It begins with learning to “sit” at Jesus’ feet, looking into his eyes, and listening to his teachings. We must learn that becoming a fruitful disciple of Jesus begins with sitting and listening to what God has “Done” for us in Jesus, before we are adequately trained to “Do” his Kingdom work.

The apostle Paul knows this and begins his letter to the Ephesian Christians with a statement that God “has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (1:3). He then invites his readers to first sit down and enjoy what God has done for them, and not to rush out trying to attain it for themselves in their own strength.

Earlier Jesus had told his disciples, “Apart from (without) me you can do nothing.”  (John 15:5). The whole of the New Testament would teach us that Christian living is, from start to finish, based upon this principle of utter dependence on the Lord Jesus. It may sound paradoxical, but is true, that we advance, “bear much fruit” only if we remain in full attention to Jesus’ love and teachings.

Like Mary, we must first be learners and worshippers, by sitting at Jesus’ feet, receiving from him Godly wisdom and understanding, before we busy ourselves with serving him, “doing” his mission in the world. Mary’s sister, Martha, was prioritizing “doing” a good thing for Jesus whereas Mary’s priority was “sitting” with Jesus. And Jesus said that Mary had chosen the better priority. (John 10:42).

The Quaker fellowships remind us of this important need for silence, meditation, worship; of being in God’s presence, of being taught by his Spirit, prior to doing God’s work of being his agent of change in our world.

What does it mean to “sit”? Webster’s dictionary gives two definitions that are applicable to what Paul writes to the Ephesian church.

   1. “To occupy a place as a member of an official body.”  Indeed, we “sit” at Jesus’ feet as a   member of God’s family, for he chose us in Jesus (1:4); in love he predestined us to be adopted as his children through Jesus Christ (1:5); and in Jesus we have redemption, forgiveness of sins, with all wisdom and understanding lavished on us (1:7-8); and we are named as fellow-citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household (2:12-13, 19).

   2. “To be in session for official business.”  Yes, indeed, we “sit” at Jesus’ feet as management    associates, princes of the King’s court, because he chose us (1:4); and we know the King’s blueprint, and his secret plan (1:9 and 1 Corinthians 2:7,16); and we are marked with the seal of Holy Spirit, identifying our belonging to the King’s court  (1:13); doing the King’s business as guaranteed inheritors of his eternal Kingdom. (1:14).

God, in Jesus, gives to us position and privilege, inviting us to sit at his feet, to look into his face, to listen to his heart and mind, to consider and receive his wisdom, direction, and power, which is needed enablement for doing Kingdom work in our community and nation.

Our praying “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” will be answered only to the measure that we first give the time and attention to “sitting, looking, listening” to Jesus’ teachings. An unknown author has written the following hymn which continues to remind me to do so.

Sitting at the Feet of Jesus

Sitting at the feet of Jesus,  Wondrous words I hear Him say!

Happy place! So near, so precious!  May it find me there each day.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus,  I reflect upon the past;

For His love so gracious,  It has won my heart at last.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus,  Is there anywhere more blest?

There I lay my sins and sorrows,  And when weary, find His rest.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus,  There I worship and I pray.

While I from His fullness gather   Grace and comfort for today.

Bless me, O my Father, bless me,  All my inner life renew;

Now look down in love upon me,  Let me catch a glimpse of You.

Give me, Lord, the mind of Jesus,  Make me holy through His Word.

May I prove I’ve been with Jesus,  Been with Him, my risen Lord.

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – August 31, 2022

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley