John 12:1-8
As a parent, it's interesting to me to sit back and watch Paisley do things by herself. I often wonder why in the world she is doing that, but the same is true for anyone. Have you ever wondered that not just from your kids, but from strangers out in public or even family members? I always love reading today's Bible story, here you have Jesus and his disciples eating dinner with Lazarus after he was just raised from the dead. I would imagine that it was the talk of the night at the dinner table, but Mary did the unthinkable in one man's eyes. Mary pulled out perfume and not the cheap stuff, but the best of the best, to wash Jesus’ feet. As you study John 12:1-8, you will find that the perfume Mary used was worth 300 denarii. (In modern exchange rate, that's $1,411) Mary did not wash Jesus’ feet to try and one-up those around; Mary came with a grateful Heart. Would you or I have been willing to set aside one year's pay to wash the feet of Jesus? As the story goes on, Judas gets upset, and not for the reasons he stated. He wanted the money for himself and not for the poor. However, as I stated above, how often do we sit back and question what in the world that person is doing? As I sit and study this passage and think about those involved, I hope my life reflects the love Mary showed Jesus. She understood that he deserved the best of the best, no matter what the cost was, not just financial, but her reputation. Her heart and actions were pure and genuine. As we go about our days, are we acting like Mary or Judas, judging those who are based on what they are doing, solely because we would not do it for personal gain? Think about this for a moment, we hear stories from all over the world where people leave their families and go into the ministry to become missionaries. Those going are going with a grateful heart to be led into that ministry; however, not everyone is called. For some, it would seem crazy to sell everything and head to a 3rd world country.
We all have a choice to make when we worship our Savior. That choice is, are we going to be like Mary, to bow down before our Savior with a grateful heart, no matter what those around us think? Let us not look to judge others on how they worship, but rather focus on the one they are worshiping.
As a parent, it's interesting to me to sit back and watch Paisley do things by herself. I often wonder why in the world she is doing that, but the same is true for anyone. Have you ever wondered that not just from your kids, but from strangers out in public or even family members? I always love reading today's Bible story, here you have Jesus and his disciples eating dinner with Lazarus after he was just raised from the dead. I would imagine that it was the talk of the night at the dinner table, but Mary did the unthinkable in one man's eyes. Mary pulled out perfume and not the cheap stuff, but the best of the best, to wash Jesus’ feet. As you study John 12:1-8, you will find that the perfume Mary used was worth 300 denarii. (In modern exchange rate, that's $1,411) Mary did not wash Jesus’ feet to try and one-up those around; Mary came with a grateful Heart. Would you or I have been willing to set aside one year's pay to wash the feet of Jesus? As the story goes on, Judas gets upset, and not for the reasons he stated. He wanted the money for himself and not for the poor. However, as I stated above, how often do we sit back and question what in the world that person is doing? As I sit and study this passage and think about those involved, I hope my life reflects the love Mary showed Jesus. She understood that he deserved the best of the best, no matter what the cost was, not just financial, but her reputation. Her heart and actions were pure and genuine. As we go about our days, are we acting like Mary or Judas, judging those who are based on what they are doing, solely because we would not do it for personal gain? Think about this for a moment, we hear stories from all over the world where people leave their families and go into the ministry to become missionaries. Those going are going with a grateful heart to be led into that ministry; however, not everyone is called. For some, it would seem crazy to sell everything and head to a 3rd world country.
We all have a choice to make when we worship our Savior. That choice is, are we going to be like Mary, to bow down before our Savior with a grateful heart, no matter what those around us think? Let us not look to judge others on how they worship, but rather focus on the one they are worshiping.
Posted in Devotional