Matthew 26:6-13 KJV — Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, [7] there came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.
[8] But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? [9] For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
[10] When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. [11] For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
[12] For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. [13] Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
Let us continue to meditate on the various events that took place in the Holy week. On Tuesday following the Hosanna, Jesus attended an event with His disciples in Bethany. It was at this meeting that a woman who had benefited from the ministry of Jesus Christ decided to worship her Lord with a box of alabaster.
The woman Mary did something that this generation doesn’t know and has not been taught. We want to learn from Mary today. She always remembered where she was coming from; who she was before she met her pastor, Jesus Christ; she remembered what work the Lord had done on her and knew that serving him with her box of alabaster was nothing. The box of alabaster was previous and valuable but cannot be compared to the honour she gave to her Lord.
I pray that we shall learn from Mary and not from the disciples. Mary had remembrance, she was not ungrateful; she remembered who she was. Today’s generation has become ungrateful because we easily forget. When our status changes and we get a little comfortable, we forget where we are coming from and who was there to help us when everyone else turned their backs on us. Mary was not like that. She was willing to serve her Lord with the most valuable things she had. No sacrifice was too big to make.
Mary didn’t mind travelling long distances to serve and worship. Mary didn’t mind serving and worshipping with her glory and body. If Mary wipes the feet of the Lord with her hair; we can equally bury our pride and serve. Mary washed the Lord’s feet with her tears; where is the church that is drenched in tears for the lost? Where is the generation of men that have the burden for the world and will cry for her lost cities and families. Mary is our example of pure worship and services. She gave her offering to the right cause and it’s our turn to give our offering.
Serving God will cost you something and must cost you something. The good news however is that your labour will not be in vain. Mary didn’t forget this one thing! She didn’t fight her helper and Lord! She came to serve and to pay back. She didn’t withdraw her support from the church. She did not turn her back on the church and pastor because she had arrived. Mary came back to serve and to worship. She remembered who she was before she met the Lord.
Expect some criticism when you start serving and sacrificing; people who have ulterior motives will criticize and call you names. Some will go so far to try to misrepresent your motives but you must make that quality decision to serve and give back to what took care of you. It’s not always about present benefits; you must remember where you are coming from.
Stay blessed!
Today’s Prayer
May the Lord help us to remember the hand that held us up when others gave up on us! Pray that you will flourish and be faithful in the Lord’s service! May the Lord continue to supply all your needs according to His riches in glory, and you shall abound in His work! Pray that the Lord will help us to understand His purpose and be available to meet needs. Pray that the Lord shall raise a people that shall willingly serve and worship in truth!
Today’s further reading
Psalm 15; Proverbs 15; Ephesians 4:1-16
