PRAYER: Lord, give me the grace to give to You as lavishly as You have poured Yourself out for me. Let me be a blessing to You, even as You have blessed my life.
DAY 18 - READ MARK 14:3-9
Can you picture the scene? This was a tense setting. Word was that the authorities were looking for a way to arrest Jesus. This was a place for serious conversation and for invited guests only. Then came this woman with her perfume. Who invited her? Who gave her permission to pour the entire contents of a perfume jar on the head of the guest of honor? Can you imagine the smell? You know the way to use perfume: just a little dab will do. But she poured out the perfume like football players dousing their coach with the Gatorade bucket. Why waste so much expensive perfume? It could have been sold and the money given to the poor. We do not know this woman’s heart. Perhaps she had experienced the forgiveness of Jesus and felt so grateful for Him that she had to find some way to bless Him. Whatever the reasons, Jesus defended her heart and her lavish act. And her gift is recorded in Scripture!
One could debate that the resources our church needs to invest in ministry could be spent on any number of things. Sometimes people complain, “A capital campaign? I want to give money to people, not to buildings. Don’t we have enough space?” Investing in bricks and mortar is an important way to invest in the lives of people. Doing ministry effectively requires such tools. Our buildings enable and support almost all of the ministries of our church. We have already seen how our building expansion is opening new doors of ministry and is facilitating fellowship in exciting ways. Perhaps we should ask a different question. Is what we are doing honoring God? Is what we are accomplishing furthering the gospel of Jesus Christ? Is what we are doing glorifying Christ? Soon after this woman anointed Jesus, he was arrested, given a mockery of a trial, tortured, and put to death by crucifixion. And on the cross, He took the wrath of God for our sins, the wrath that we deserved. He poured Himself out completely for us. Now we have a chance to give back to Him in response to Jesus’ sacrifice for us.
ACTION ITEM
Make a list of the ways that your gifts, and these projects, might bless others and become a fragrant aroma lavishly poured out to anoint Jesus.