Be Present
The Gift of Presence: Building a Legacy That Lasts
In our fast-paced world, where productivity is prized and busyness is often worn as a badge of honour, we can easily lose sight of what matters most. The ancient story of two sisters offers us a profound truth that challenges our modern sensibilities: presence will always outweigh perfection when it comes to what truly matters.
Choosing What Cannot Be Taken Away
The Gospel of Luke introduces us to Martha and Mary, two sisters who responded very differently when Jesus visited their home. Martha busied herself with preparations, consumed by the details of hosting. Mary, on the other hand, made a radical choice—she stopped everything and sat at Jesus' feet.
When Martha complained about being left to do all the work alone, Jesus responded with words that echo through the centuries: "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
Mary appears three times in the Gospels, and remarkably, she's always in the same position: at the feet of Jesus. Whether learning, weeping, or worshiping, she understood something fundamental about discipleship—being present with Christ is more important than working for Christ.
This isn't to diminish the value of service. We all need to prepare, to work, to serve. But when our activity pulls us away from the very source of our strength, we've missed the point entirely. Few things are more damaging to a Christian's life than trying to work for Christ without first communing with Christ.
The Legacy We're Building
The question isn't whether we're busy—most of us are juggling multiple responsibilities, especially those in seasons of raising children or caring for others. The question is: what legacy are we building through all this activity?
In Deuteronomy 6, Moses shares God's commands with the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. His instructions are clear: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children."
Notice the order. First, the commands must be on our hearts. Then, and only then, can we impress them on our children. We cannot give what we don't possess. If we aren't spending time at the feet of Jesus, we have nothing of eternal value to pass on.
Moses tells the Israelites to talk about God's commands when sitting at home, walking along the road, lying down, and getting up. In other words, faith isn't a Sunday-only religion. It's woven into the fabric of everyday life—in the mundane moments, the ordinary conversations, the routine activities.
The Power of Moments
Consider the Magic Castle Hotel in Los Angeles. Despite being relatively modest in appearance, it consistently ranks as one of the top hotels in the city. The secret? They've mastered the art of making small moments memorable. A popsicle hotline by the pool. Free snacks delivered with care. Laundry wrapped in butcher paper with a sprig of lavender. These aren't grand gestures, but they transform ordinary experiences into something special.
The same principle applies to building a spiritual legacy. We don't need elaborate programs or perfect circumstances. We need to recognize that moments have power. A prayer spoken over a scraped knee. A conversation about God's faithfulness during a car ride. A story of redemption shared over dinner. These seemingly small moments, accumulated over time, create a lasting impression.
Legacy isn't built in a day. It's constructed through years of faithful presence—of being there, of pointing to Jesus in the everyday, of making our faith visible rather than just audible.
When You Feel Unseen
But what about those seasons when it feels like nothing we do matters? When our sacrifices seem to go unnoticed, our efforts appear fruitless, and we wonder if anyone sees or cares?
The story of Hagar offers profound comfort. As an Egyptian slave caught in the dysfunction of Abraham and Sarah's household, Hagar found herself pregnant, mistreated, and fleeing into the desert. She was powerless, forgotten, invisible—or so it seemed.
But God met her there. An angel appeared with a message of hope and promise. Her son would be named Ishmael, meaning "God hears." And Hagar responded by naming God "El Roi"—the God who sees me. She declared, "I have now seen the One who sees me."
This is how God responds to all His children who are hurting. He hears our cries. He sees us in our time of need. Though we may feel invisible, we are never unseen. In moments of grief, waiting, or feeling forgotten, God not only sees us but notices our faithfulness, our tears, our perseverance.
You're Doing Great
Comparison is one of the greatest thieves of joy, especially in an age of social media where everyone else's life appears further ahead. We look around and wonder: Am I doing enough? Am I falling behind? Is everyone else succeeding while I'm struggling?
These are lies we must reject. The truth is simpler and more encouraging than we often allow ourselves to believe: if you're showing up, if you're loving, if you're sacrificing, if you're pointing others to Jesus—you're doing great.
You don't need to be perfect to make an eternal impact. You need to be present.
Present with God first, sitting at His feet, drawing from His strength. Present with those you're called to influence, making ordinary moments matter. Present even when it's hard, even when you feel unseen, trusting that God notices every faithful act.
The call isn't to juggle more or perform better. The call is to stop, to sit at Jesus' feet, and to let everything else flow from that place of connection. Because what we do with Christ will always be more important than what we do for Christ.
In the end, the greatest gift we can offer—to God, to our children, to those we influence—isn't our perfection. It's our presence. And that presence, rooted in our relationship with Jesus, creates a legacy that lasts for generations.
In our fast-paced world, where productivity is prized and busyness is often worn as a badge of honour, we can easily lose sight of what matters most. The ancient story of two sisters offers us a profound truth that challenges our modern sensibilities: presence will always outweigh perfection when it comes to what truly matters.
Choosing What Cannot Be Taken Away
The Gospel of Luke introduces us to Martha and Mary, two sisters who responded very differently when Jesus visited their home. Martha busied herself with preparations, consumed by the details of hosting. Mary, on the other hand, made a radical choice—she stopped everything and sat at Jesus' feet.
When Martha complained about being left to do all the work alone, Jesus responded with words that echo through the centuries: "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
Mary appears three times in the Gospels, and remarkably, she's always in the same position: at the feet of Jesus. Whether learning, weeping, or worshiping, she understood something fundamental about discipleship—being present with Christ is more important than working for Christ.
This isn't to diminish the value of service. We all need to prepare, to work, to serve. But when our activity pulls us away from the very source of our strength, we've missed the point entirely. Few things are more damaging to a Christian's life than trying to work for Christ without first communing with Christ.
The Legacy We're Building
The question isn't whether we're busy—most of us are juggling multiple responsibilities, especially those in seasons of raising children or caring for others. The question is: what legacy are we building through all this activity?
In Deuteronomy 6, Moses shares God's commands with the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. His instructions are clear: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children."
Notice the order. First, the commands must be on our hearts. Then, and only then, can we impress them on our children. We cannot give what we don't possess. If we aren't spending time at the feet of Jesus, we have nothing of eternal value to pass on.
Moses tells the Israelites to talk about God's commands when sitting at home, walking along the road, lying down, and getting up. In other words, faith isn't a Sunday-only religion. It's woven into the fabric of everyday life—in the mundane moments, the ordinary conversations, the routine activities.
The Power of Moments
Consider the Magic Castle Hotel in Los Angeles. Despite being relatively modest in appearance, it consistently ranks as one of the top hotels in the city. The secret? They've mastered the art of making small moments memorable. A popsicle hotline by the pool. Free snacks delivered with care. Laundry wrapped in butcher paper with a sprig of lavender. These aren't grand gestures, but they transform ordinary experiences into something special.
The same principle applies to building a spiritual legacy. We don't need elaborate programs or perfect circumstances. We need to recognize that moments have power. A prayer spoken over a scraped knee. A conversation about God's faithfulness during a car ride. A story of redemption shared over dinner. These seemingly small moments, accumulated over time, create a lasting impression.
Legacy isn't built in a day. It's constructed through years of faithful presence—of being there, of pointing to Jesus in the everyday, of making our faith visible rather than just audible.
When You Feel Unseen
But what about those seasons when it feels like nothing we do matters? When our sacrifices seem to go unnoticed, our efforts appear fruitless, and we wonder if anyone sees or cares?
The story of Hagar offers profound comfort. As an Egyptian slave caught in the dysfunction of Abraham and Sarah's household, Hagar found herself pregnant, mistreated, and fleeing into the desert. She was powerless, forgotten, invisible—or so it seemed.
But God met her there. An angel appeared with a message of hope and promise. Her son would be named Ishmael, meaning "God hears." And Hagar responded by naming God "El Roi"—the God who sees me. She declared, "I have now seen the One who sees me."
This is how God responds to all His children who are hurting. He hears our cries. He sees us in our time of need. Though we may feel invisible, we are never unseen. In moments of grief, waiting, or feeling forgotten, God not only sees us but notices our faithfulness, our tears, our perseverance.
You're Doing Great
Comparison is one of the greatest thieves of joy, especially in an age of social media where everyone else's life appears further ahead. We look around and wonder: Am I doing enough? Am I falling behind? Is everyone else succeeding while I'm struggling?
These are lies we must reject. The truth is simpler and more encouraging than we often allow ourselves to believe: if you're showing up, if you're loving, if you're sacrificing, if you're pointing others to Jesus—you're doing great.
You don't need to be perfect to make an eternal impact. You need to be present.
Present with God first, sitting at His feet, drawing from His strength. Present with those you're called to influence, making ordinary moments matter. Present even when it's hard, even when you feel unseen, trusting that God notices every faithful act.
The call isn't to juggle more or perform better. The call is to stop, to sit at Jesus' feet, and to let everything else flow from that place of connection. Because what we do with Christ will always be more important than what we do for Christ.
In the end, the greatest gift we can offer—to God, to our children, to those we influence—isn't our perfection. It's our presence. And that presence, rooted in our relationship with Jesus, creates a legacy that lasts for generations.
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