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“Have them sit down…” Luke 9:14

We’ve been in a series at Kfirst called the “13th Floor.”

And for those of you who don’t attend, the reason we call it the “13th Floor” comes from how many hotels approach that floor. Some of them skip the number 13 and go straight to 14 when numbering floors. As rational thought will dictate, hotels and buildings higher than 12 floors of course have a 13th floor, however, they do away with it by simply renaming it something else. In other words, though a 13th floor exists, it’s not always SEEN or NOTICED.

I think faith is the 13th Floor. We don’t see it, but we know it’s there. And it to be seen, it needs to be accessed. We all know of faith, but to really to know faith, must experience faith. Faith is our “13th Floor.”

As I was going through my study notes from last week, I was perusing through the “left-over” stuff that didn’t make it to the message. I came across some thoughts from Luke 9. It was four simple words that spoke to me about faith.

“Have them sit down…”

5000+ people have been listening intently to Jesus. They’ve come from around the region to see the man whom they’ve heard about. And now, they’re hungry. You know how that feels when you are enjoying a pastor’s message but thinking about heading to Qdoba after church.

Jesus’ staff (disciples) noticed the people were hungry ajd where they were at wasn’t able to offer anything to them (verse 12). The day was long, the ministry was good, but the people were in need. And then those four words come in…

“Have them sit down…”

Why do I see these words as powerful and impactful? They convey a posture of rest, trust and expectation.

In a series where we’ve defined faith as both INVITATION and ACTIVATION (“I do what I believe“), sometimes the activity of your faith is as simple as sitting down so that we can invite His activity in us. It’s resting at His feet. It is calming yourself in the midst of your what you’re facing to trust in Him.

Sit down.

Our attention is pulled in fifty different directions by people, tasks, and devices. In a culture of massive activity where busyness equates to productivity, taking a moment to sit in the presence of Jesus and receive from Him can be just what your faith needs in order to grow deeper. There’s something about the posture of sitting that stills us so that we can receive what we’d most likely miss because we won’t stop moving. Sitting is posturing yourself in a way that INVITES HIS ACTIVITY in your life.

Sitting. It conveys rest, trust, expectation. 

You want to deepen your faith? Sit. Take a moment to rest in His presence so that He can give you strength and wisdom. As you rest in him, trust your day to Him. Invite His leading and provision for what you need to face the day. Listen for His voice to grow expectation in your heart.

And when you’re done with INVITING, take your faith and make it ACTIVE in you life.

Love you all. Praying for you today as you live you life on the “13th Floor.”

But before you go…sit.

Thanks for letting me ramble…