James 2:23 (NIV) "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.
Jesus doesn’t simply want obedient followers, He wants intimate friends.
Mark 3:13-14 (NIV) 13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve--designating them apostles--that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach.
Luke 10: 38-42 (TPT) As Jesus and the disciples continued on their journey, they came to a village where a woman welcomed Jesus into her home. Her name was Martha and she had a sister named Mary. Mary sat down attentively before the Master, absorbing every revelation he shared. 40 But Martha became exasperated by finishing the numerous household chores in preparation for her guests, so she interrupted Jesus and said, “Lord, don’t you think it’s unfair that my sister left me to do all the work by myself? You should tell her to get up and help me.” 41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, my beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions? Are they really that important? 42 Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her.”
Switching to the better way
1. Urgency for Intimacy.
James 1:22 (NLT) But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
John 15:14-15 (NIV) 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
We are functioning as friends.
-“He isn’t calling you to be busy he is calling you to be fruitful”
-“Business is the enemy of fruitfulness.”
-“Doing for Jesus will never substitute being with him.”
The result of intimacy takes us from being busy to being fruitful.
John 15:4-5 (NIV) 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing
2. Centrality over priority
Matthew 6:33 (NLT) Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Luke 10:25-28 (NIV) 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" 27 He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" 28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live.”
“God isn’t looking to be first on your list he is looking to be the center of your life.”
“We don’t fall in love we grow in love.”
Growth happens by lingering at his feet.
3. Lingering over Laboring
Psalm 27:4 (NIV) One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
“Lovers will always outwork, outlast, & outclass laborers."
John 15:5 (NIV) Apart from me you can do nothing
Lingering is the better way…
Ministering to Jesus is the greater ministry!
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1 John 4:19 (NIV) We love because he first loved us.
John 13:8-9 (NLT) 8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” 9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”