Inside Out βοΈ
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What's your favorite story/scene in scripture? One of mine is definitely the anointing of Jesus at Bethany. You can read this story in Mark 14 and John 12. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
(John 12:3 ESV)
This public display of devotion was wildly extravagant β and even offensive to some around the dinner table that evening. "Why this waste?" they asked. Mary poured out what she had, perhaps all she had, to honor her precious Savior, knowing his crucifixion was coming. This moment was not the result of an emotional whim. Rather, it was premeditated, motivated by many encounters with her Teacher, sitting at his feet, taking his words and way of life to heart. This act of service stemmed from deep inside her soul. Mary wasn't going through the motions of ministry or merely checking the boxes. She BROKE the box, that alabaster box, so the costly ointment contained inside could spill out in the open. Mary's pleasing aroma of pure devotion shifted the atmosphere β moving her Master and provoking the onlookers. They shamed her, while sounding pious... "This ointment could have been sold for more than 300 denarii and given to the poor." (Mark 14:5) But Jesus defended her... "She has done a beautiful thing to me." (Mark 14:6) In that moment, the hidden things of the heart were made manifest. For Mary: beauty. For some of the others? It was more about the money. This story reminds me that Jesus cares more about what's inside of me than "using" me for ministry. He cares more about my character than my social media content. While we humans fixate on appearances, the Lord looks at our hearts (see 1 Samuel 16:7). God works from the inside out. That's the summation of the new covenant: God's law written on our heart, the Holy Spirit working within "...both to will and to work his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). What's inside of us will eventually spill out. Will we let the Lord into our deep, hidden places to do his work? To remove our sin? To turn the bitter to sweet? I'm reminded of a vision I had a few years ago of a french press. As I was waking up, I saw a carafe filled with coffee. Then the press came down and the liquid poured out. I believe it serves as an illustration of the spiritual formation process β a picture that puts in perspective our sufferings and trials, our tragedies and triumphs. All the grit of our lives as raw ingredients for the glory of God. Here's the note from my phone that morning... With God, not one sorrow or trial will be wasted. The longer we have to wait, the bolder and better will be our taste. The pressing brings a purifying, ensuring what's poured is palatable. In due time, what's inside will come spilling out. Like Mary of Bethany and many other faithful disciples through the ages ... May we pour out our lives as a drink offering in love and devotion to Jesus. Song suggestion for worship: If I Could Have Anything by Housefiresβ Percolating, Chelsea |