“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” Mark 14:6-8
It was a typical Sunday at our church, or so we thought. The worship team had just gotten back from a worship conference, where the team had witnessed a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit. During the worship time at the conference, many people fell to their knees, received healing, and returned with their hearts filled with praise to the Lord. Just on the heels of the revival taking place at Asbury Seminary the past week, the team came back excited to see what God was going to do in our own church. Our church, not normally known for going up for prayer at the end of the service, was led into prayer by the worship pastor. While the music played softly in the background, I felt the Lord whisper to my heart: “Go up to the altar, kneel down, and raise your hands to me.”
Obedient to God's call, I went up to the altar, fell to my knees, and raised my hands. Apparently, the Lord spoke to my husband too as he came alongside of me and did the same. Both of us, hands outstretched to heaven, inspired the congregation to do the same. I believed God wanted to take us to the next level in our worship, and he wanted us to lead our congregation as well. Although this was not the first time we'd ever done this during worship, this particular act of obedience triggered the congregation to begin their own acts of worship. Some came up to the altar and prayed. Some lay prostrate on the floor. Others wept. The entire worship team fell to their knees, put down their guitars, and sang whatever acapella worship song came to their minds. More than half the church had taken a humble posture of praise. After many years of prayer, God finally answered us as we asked him to have our own revival within our congregation. One act of obedience as we stepped out of our comfort zones led our congregation in a worship experience they had never seen in the history of the church, nor have they seen since.
The Bible shares many stories of people giving their all to the Lord in worship. The woman in the above passage chose to pour out an expensive alabaster jar of oil and anoint Jesus’ head with it. This was a common custom for people to do in preparation for a person’s burial. An alabaster jar is not easily opened, so it would have taken tenacity and perseverance to break open the jar. But in this woman's estimation, nothing was too good for the Lord. In return for her act of worship, she received a sharp rebuke from the Pharisees. Jesus, in turn, rebukes them, letting them know what a great act of love and faith this took for her to complete. Because she committed a great act of love and worship, she will be remembered for her act because she “did what she could.”
The Lord does not want us to do the bare minimum when it comes to our worship of him. He asks us not only to give of ourselves but to give all we have in worship. Jesus never had his head anointed with oil during his ministry on earth, but this woman showed him an act of honor by giving him the most expensive jar of perfume. She wanted to demonstrate to everyone the proper burial, one only a king deserved.
As we go about our week, in what ways can we give all we have to show our love and honor for Jesus? Give sacrificially, above and beyond what you normally give. Sacrifice your time and meet the needs of a neighbor or a person in need. Take your worship to the next level and display an act of worship during your normal church service that's outside of your comfort zone. Show the King the honor and respect he is due.
Father, thank you for the gift of Jesus. Thank you that every day we get an opportunity to demonstrate our great love and honor to him. Open our eyes and show us ways where we can be the hands and feet of Jesus to those who need us the most. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Christin Lola
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