(Sort of) Sold out to God

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(Sort of) Sold out to God

Sort of sold out to God – sounds strange doesn’t it? How can you be sort of
sold out? It’s like being “sort of” dead – you either are or you're not. So much of
my life I've been “sort of “ sold out to God – not all the way, just
sort of. Not completely, just sort of. Last Sunday night I led a Bible study and we contrasted the life of Judas with the life of Mary of Bethany – how powerful.

Using the scripture below (along with Mark 14:6-9) we looked at these two very different
people who lived and walked with Jesus while He was on earth.

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages. " He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."

John 12:3-7 (NIV)

– Mary loved Jesus and gave to him with all that she had. She didn’t worry what others thought, she was completely focused on Him.

--Judas walked with Jesus for three years and he never truly knew the Lord. He focused on his own selfish motives.

Look at the difference in these two people – one was right there with Jesus daily, but Judas was more concerned with money than with His Lord. Mary was with Jesus on a few occasions, but she loved Him deeply without holding anything back.

Judas didn’t see Mary’s heart; he only saw the money being poured out. Judas wasn’t interested in helping the poor; he wanted the money to line his own pockets. Judas had an agenda.

Mary took her alabaster jar of perfume – possibly the most valuable item she owned – and poured it over her Lord. She then took her hair down and wiped His feet. She didn’t care what those around her thought, she just wanted to serve Jesus. Mary had a heart for the Lord.

Judas had an agenda. Mary loved the Lord with all that she had.

That’s what I want to do – love the Lord with pure abandon. Be completely selfless and totally dependent on Him. I want to worship Him and not worry what other people think about me. I want to let my hair fall down and I want to fall at His feet in worship. I want to be completely sold out to Him.

I’m turning my back on the “sort of’” lifestyle. I don’t want to be “sort of” anything. Starting today I will strive to be completely “sold out” to God.