This week, my church is starting the Live Dead challenge. You know, taking up our cross daily and following Christ. What does that mean? What does that look like?
Practically speaking, during the next month we’re going through a journal/devotional together(see LiveDead link above). Spiritually speaking? Well, that all depends on where Christ takes us. We’ve been through this challenge before, but like a lot of good things, we tend to let things distract us from sticking with it.
Its time to remind ourselves again. Its time to spend extravagant time with Christ and let Him change us. I want to share a bit of that challenge with you by reminding you of a woman in the Bible who gave her most valuable possession…
(The full story: Matthew 26:6-13/Mark 14: 3-9/Luke 7:36-50/John 12:3-8)
The woman carried a beautiful jar, made from a type of almost transparent marble. It was filled with spikenard perfume. A perfume that would cost a man almost a year’s wages. The prized possession of an ordinary woman.
She walked into the room uninvited and every eye watched her approach one of the guests reclining at the table. She knelt down and poured the oil over his feet. No one moved as the scent of worship filled the house and she wiped his feet with her hair.
Most looked down on her, because she was a sinful woman. One man complained that the perfume wasn’t sold and the money given to the poor. The others shifted in their seats.
This ordinary woman abandoned personal consideration and dared to pour out the best she had on this man’s feet because she loved Him—this man Jesus. He smiled and accepted her offering. And He was glorified.
For you and me…
We wipe noses and change diapers even when we would rather have coffee with our friends. We say no to activities that do not honor God, then our friends think we’re sticks in the mud. We say no to a promotion because the increase in responsibility would leave no time for family. The alabaster box is broken.
We stay with our spouse even when the vows are broken. We stay at our jobs even when the boss is unfair. We stay in our friendships even when we’ve been hurt. Jesus’ feet are anointed.
We put Him first in the middle of ordinary living and He is glorified.
Jesus accepts our offering: an Alabaster life.
What will you offer Jesus today?
Sometimes it feels like our sacrifices don't matter unless they're profound or news-worthy. But I appreciate the point you've made, that even our small acts of worship and sacrifice are significant. I think the repeated act of laying down the "little" things at the feet of Jesus is more indicative of our spiritual state than some great single moment in the spotlight.
We can get too easily discouraged if we don't keep that in mind!
He is worthy of those costly gifts.