"Some of those at the table were indignant.
"Why waste such expensive perfume?" they asked.
Mark 14:4
Sometimes we can go through unexpected outcomes in family, parenting, ministry, work, projects, school, or community. I remember being disappointed by something in the church ministry I had put my heart and soul into that didn't go as planned. I asked God, "Why would you send me so far down this path when the outcome wasn't what I had thought?" I felt like I wasted time and effort when I could have done something else.
In Mark 14:3-4, Jesus was eating at the home of Simon, and a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head. Some of those sitting at the table were indignant, saying, "Why waste such expensive perfume?" Jesus replied in Mark 14:6, "Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me?"
In those times, when oil was poured over the head, it often empowered a person to do a task through the Holy Spirit or served as a preparation for burial. The perfume symbolized and foreshadowed what was to come for all believers: a sweet fragrance of eternal life with Jesus.
What was profound is that the woman didn't see the price tag of the fragrance because she was looking at The Anointed One, who would soon be sacrificed and resurrected for the debt of our sins. This woman, whom we know as Mary of Bethany in John 12:3, knew the heart of Jesus, and all she wanted was to be in His presence. She brought her best to Jesus by worshiping and honoring Him, not holding back, no matter the cost.
Reading this story about Mary made me realize that my time wasn't wasted even though things didn't go how I wanted. I began to question all the good that came out of that season. Did I honor and obey God with what He put in front of me? Did I learn to lead in ways I wouldn't have known otherwise? Did I become closer to Jesus by serving? Did others get to experience Jesus' love? All of this self-dialogue had me thinking. There was a purpose to what I experienced. I gained the greatest thing in life, a deeper relationship with Jesus and others.
Often, we can get hung up on the outcome of what we do rather than becoming more like Jesus, and we miss out on opportunities to be a sweet aroma for Jesus. When we show our love for Jesus by being with Him and serving others at home, church, work, school, or community, that is worship. Wherever we are, we can have a heart for His outcome! Acknowledging the example of Mary, when we put Jesus first over everything else in life, it is a good use of time. It is worship, and Jesus says it is a good thing to Him. What areas in your life do you need to put Him first and have a heart of worship?
Your fellow Able Mom,
Jayme Gradwell
Heavenly Father, thank you for your sweet presence and for giving me a heart
of worship to honor and seek you first in complete devotion. No matter the outcome
in life, I want to be with you. Thank you for helping me see that growing
in my relationship with you is where I always want to be.
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