It's amazing how many times we can read through a part of the Bible, and then suddenly one day, it all makes sense. For me, it was reading through this part of Scripture and then reading it again in one of Samuel's children's books. Maybe it was the simplicity of the book; more likely it was the Spirit's nudging and moving; but in these few moments, my picture of who Jesus is and how deeply He desires a relationship with us became clearer, more focused, more real.

In Samuel's book, The Beginner's Bible, in the section "Jesus, Mary and Martha", it says this:

Mary and Martha were friends with Jesus. One day, Jesus came over to visit. Mary stayed by Jesus. She was happy to just sit and listen to him. Mary listened to Jesus for a long time.

Martha was happy to see Jesus too. "But there is too much to do!" she cried. Martha worked and worked and worked. She cooked and she cleaned. And then she worked some more! "I am so busy working while Mary is doing nothing!" said Martha. Martha was hot and tired. "Jesus," Martha whined, "please tell Mary to help me!"

"Martha, Martha" said Jesus. "You should not be upset. Mary has chosen what is better. She is listening to me." (emphasis mine)

At that moment, when I closed the book and started to explain the meaning to Samuel, the Spirit was explaining it to me. I was telling him how much Jesus wants to talk with him, share with him, and be with him. And then the light bulb clicked on, the epiphany took place, and the Spirit whispered in my ear. "It's not about works, how hard you work or how much you do. It's all about Jesus, the person."

"Yes Lord, it's all about having a relationship with You, the only one who is the truth, the only one who is a person, not a thing, not an idea, not a set of principles." He really wants me to sit and be with Him. He wants to hear the questions, fears, and moments of excitement. He is love and a friend who cares for me, not just what I do or how hard I work.

This moment of sharing with Samuel wasn't really for me just to tell him another story. It was the Holy Spirit's way of speaking to my heart, mind, and soul. It was His way of saying, "Melinda, stop fretting about things like having an immaculate home, or getting the grocery shopping done, or responding to all those emails. You will do them and want to do them, but first, come and sit with me for a while. Come and fill up on the good portion. Have a cup of tea, sit down, rest, and share with me. Listen to what I'm telling you, tell me what's on your heart, and choose what will last for eternity."

It's not about the work with Christ. We cannot earn our way to heaven; we cannot work for His love, because with Jesus, it's all about His unending supply of grace — grace that was poured out on the cross so that we could come and sit with Him, sit and listen and find what we need.

Prayer: Holy and compassionate God, You are worthy of all our praise, for You died, carrying our burden on the cross, and then You rose, victorious over death, so that we could have the good portion. Thank You, God, that You don't give us what we deserve, but rather You give us what we need — attention, love, compassion, and forgiveness. Help us, Lord, to give You, daily, what You deserve — our praise, our time, and our hearts. Amen.

Then I heard it: the gentle, yet matter-of-fact words of the Holy Spirit, reminding me of two very important words that I pledge to show more of this year: grace and patience.

It appeared so quickly, so easily, so clearly: a picture of my Saviour — moments of my Saviour's life, running through my mind. His life — it wasn't fair in so many ways — yet He came, lived, died, rose again, and did it all for us, for each and every one of us, whether we choose to follow Him or not. It isn't about fairness, I heard in the whisper, It's about grace.

It wasn't fair that Jesus came to earth as a little babe, dependent on Mary and Joseph. He was with God and is God, powerful and almighty; still, He graciously humbled Himself and became flesh to dwell among us and with us.

It wasn't fair that Jesus rarely had time alone. People followed Him everywhere. They wanted to hear His teaching, feel His healing hand, see someone raised from the dead. Even when He tried to be alone, they found Him. Yet, He showed them compassion and grace.

It wasn't fair that Jesus was put to death because of false witnesses, because some were jealous and afraid of Him. They stood up and pointed fingers at Him, collaborated lies, and accused Him of things that He had never done. He quietly took the beating and spitting and lies, patient with those who hated Him and would kill Him.

It wasn't fair that Jesus had to die on the cross for our sin. He was perfect as man and powerful as God, but He chose to bear the punishment for all of our sin by becoming the sacrifice. He graciously gave us His life because He loves us.

He speaks to me, quietly and gently, yet matter-of-factly:

It isn't fair and it likely won't ever be, but I offer you more, more than fairness; I offer you grace and mercy, giving you more than you deserve and keeping you from the punishment you justly deserve.

Maybe I don't want fairness any more, but rather the grace of a loving Father, who gives good gifts to His children; the mercy of my Lord, who doesn't punish as I deserve but took the punishment Himself. This, this is what I want in me and flowing out of me. It wasn't fair that Jesus went to the cross for me, for you, for the sins of mankind, because it was all about grace.

Philippians 2:3-11 – Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (NIV)

Prayer: Come Holy Spirit — full of grace and love — to indwell and pour out of this heart. Amen.