Wasteful Worship

Sunday, June 11, 2017

Wasteful Worship

Scripture:
Matthew 26:6-13
And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”
10 But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. 11 For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. 12 For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. 13 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

Luke 7:37-38
And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.

Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

Psalm 112:6
For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever.

Devotional:
Why this waste? The woman who anointed Jesus with her tears is one with whom I deeply identify. Her gratitude for the forgiveness and healing of her Savior gave her no sense of decorum.

The lyrics from It Is Well With My Soul come to mind:

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul!

This grateful woman poured her tears and likely her most precious possession out over Him. This gift was not too costly. The fragrance of her sacrifice filled the room.

I have been in a room filled with the fragrance of spikenard. While the fragrance itself is not my preference for personal consumption, I will never forget the depth of my spirit’s response to this scent as it permeated a room full of worshipers.

Today is the day when most believers celebrate our Lord. It is His day. It is the day when we pour out our sacrifice. Let us not hold back on the deepest places. Let us pour out our hearts to Him today and waste our deepest gratitude to celebrate His atonement for us.

Prayer:
Today, Lord, I dedicate my heart and soul to lifting You up. You are the Great Redeemer of my soul. It is by You that I have been brought into the Kingdom of God and welcomed as Your child. Bless Your holy Name, Lord! Thank You for Your gift and sacrifice.

Intercession:
Lord, I pray that as I pour my life out to You that my children would see this and desire a relationship with You as well. I pray that their hearts would be soft, malleable and ready to receive You and grow in You.

I lift up (take time to name and perhaps journal about the needs of your child(ren). Ask the Lord for Scripture that applies, and take some time to meditate on it. Ask God to give you wisdom, discernment, direction, counsel and peace) to You and leave it with You.

I love You, Lord.


In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.

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