Nothing but Jesus (from Bible App plan)

Jesus is traveling through Bethany when he’s invited to dine in the home of his friends Mary and Martha. While Martha does what hostesses are expected to do for their last-minute guests, scrambling to prepare food and refreshments, Mary ignores the clamor (and her responsibilities) so she can “sit at the feet” of Jesus. Martha, like you and I would do in her place, finally blows her top, pleading with Jesus to demand that her sister take her blinders off and help. Instead, Jesus gently rebukes his good friend. Mary has chosen “the one thing,” the only thing that’s really “necessary” in life. And what is she choosing against? Well, the important work of a good hostess, at the moment. And why does she make this choice? Certainly not because she is “shoulded” into it—quite the opposite, actually. Mary chooses the “only necessary” thing in life because she is fascinated by, hungry for, and gravitationally pulled toward Jesus.

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.  But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38‭-‬42 NKJV

An object that orbits another is called a satellite. The shape of an orbit is never perfectly circular—it’s always elliptical, like an oval. Sometimes the orbiting object, the satellite, is closer to its “sun,” and other times it is farther away. But it never stops orbiting, no matter how far the ellipsis takes it. It reminds me of how Bono, U2’s iconic singer/songwriter, responded to a Rolling Stone writer’s question about his favorite music: “The music that really turns me on is either running toward God or away from God. Both recognize the pivot, that God is at the center of the jaunt.” Jesus at the center means that our elliptical orbit in life might feel sometimes-near and sometimes-far from him, but everything in our life is nevertheless influenced by his gravitational pull.

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
I Corinthians 2:1‭-‬5 NKJV

A “try harder to get better” mindset has little to do with real transformation. We don’t need a new set of tips-and-techniques that promises to lead us to a deeper life with Jesus. But we can learn to nudge our life in ways that intentionally draw us more deeply into relationship with Jesus—the simple focus of our life habits shifts from working harder to be a “better Christian” or becoming a “good person,” to knowing Jesus more intimately. And by knowing him much better, we eventually know ourselves much better—that’s what this “progression” reveals: “Get to know Jesus well, because the more you know him, the more you’ll love him, and the more you love him, the more you’ll want to follow him, and the more you follow him, the more you’ll become like him, and the more you become like him, the more you become yourself.”

Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.  Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
John 15:2‭-‬9 NKJV