Reckless Worship

"And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she broke the box, and poured it on his head.

And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?

For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.

And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.

For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.

Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

Mark 14:4-9

I began reading the story of Mary of Bethany during the Holidays. I thought about her living example of pure worship to our Savior. I realized that Mary of Bethany cared little about how she was perceived by others when she approached her Savior to anoint Him with expensive oil.

Touching our Savior was the only important matter on her mind. She wanted to be near her Savior and give Him everything she had as worship to her Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Mary of Bethany was criticized "harshly" by those who observed her act of adoration.

Is it possible that we too, could become critical of other's worship to our Savior? Are we concerned with what others might say about us as we worship and adore Him?

"But the hour is coming and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; the Father is seeking such to worship Him." John 4:23

God goes on to say,

"God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:24

Our worship to Jesus Christ consists of a whatever we do to honor our Savior and what our motives are. It is not out of convenience or self gratification that we approach Him but rather, the offering of ourselves and our bodies as living sacrifices - the taking up our cross daily toward Him.

Mary of Bethany cared little the cost of the oil she used to anoint Jesus Christ for his burial with. She literally poured the expensive oil on his head as an act of profound love.

In the book of John, he said it was used to anoint our Savior's feet. She then used her hair to wipe His feet. What a beautiful act of devotion! Jesus discerned her heart and the pure love for the things of God. Mary of Bethany knew that He was worth it all. It was the Lord's preeminence that moved her to worship Him - as it should us!

Remember, at all times God looks at the heart of the worshiper - and you and I should always remember this when approaching Him! I want to have this type of worship for my Redeemer.

She humbled herself before God and desiring only to serve the Lord. Her action and attitude marked her as a woman who was courageous in spirit - we too, should have these same traits when we commit ourselves to Christ and our worship of Him!

What keeps us from sitting at His feet? What entangles us in this world? Ask Him to bring it to mind. Worship is our outward reflection of our love towards Jesus Christ. Pray and ask our Savior to give you this deep love for Him and His Word. Mary of Bethany cherished the words of our Savior, Jesus Christ. His Word is our greatest source of comfort, peace, and hope!

Our deep conviction of worship for our beautiful Savior will keep us aware of how we live. This will help us avoid the movies we shouldn't watch, books we shouldn't read and talk shows we shouldn't follow!

Our intimacy with our Savior and Father is His highest priority for our lives. Whether it is praising, giving thanks, singing, praying or giving financially, the issue always comes down to our motivation for doing the things we do.

To Him, it is the heart of the worship that matters.

Worship is a moment by moment expression of our walk. This type of worship should make us think twice before we do the things we do.

Mary of Bethany and her act of worship may have seen reckless to those observing her pouring oil upon our Lord, but God sees it as an act of deep devotion.

"Assuredly, I say to you, whenever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her." Mark 14:9

"You are worthy, O Lord," To receive glory and honor and power; For you created all things, and by your will they exist and were created." Revelation 4:11

"That you may live a life worthy of the Lord." Colossians 1:10

Here is a portion of an old hymn I love:

"O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to thee; For thou, in Thine atonement, Didst give Thy-self for me; I own no other Master, My heart shall be thy throne; My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for thee alone."

My prayer for all of us:

"Thank you my heavenly Father for sharing Mary of Bethany with us. Help us to live a life of devotion to you that others might recognize as the life lived of reckless worship for eternity - remembering your always knowing our motive and whether it is in Sprit and in Truth."

In Him,

Elaine