Justin Tucker, LHBC Worship Pastor

Luke 7:36-38
One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 

I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart

Most of the time when we read this eye-witness account of this woman washing and anointing Jesus’ feet, we put our emphasis on the cost of the alabaster jar of perfume. While the perfume may have been expensive, it wasn’t the only costly thing being broken at the feet of Jesus on that day. In her social context, this wasn’t something that anyone that wanted to keep their dignity or self-respect would want to do. She had to have been aware how people would interpret or judge her actions. She was aware of the outrage that would ensue. But this woman completely disregarded all of those things because she knew that Jesus was worth it. 

No one understood why she would put herself in that position. No one knew why Jesus would allow it to happen. It made everyone uncomfortable. It was a scene! No one in the room got it. No one but Jesus. Jesus was moved by it. He was moved by it so much that He makes the statement in Matthew’s telling of the story that,Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” – Matthew 26:13. She didn’t do this to be noticed. She didn’t do this so everyone could take a picture and post it to Instagram saying how they witnessed an awesome worship moment. She did this because in that moment she HAD TO tell Jesus how much He meant to her and how much He had touched her life. 

How many things do we do in worship that cost us absolutely nothing? How many things do we not do because it might cost us something? Worship without cost is worship without impact. In 2 Samuel 24:24 King David says, “I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” When we begin to offer God our dignity, our pride, our self-respect, our personal, emotional, and financial comfort…we begin to understand the cost of worship. 

PRAYER FOR TODAY:
God, teach me to worship you without holding back. Help us to lay our self-image, our pride, our comfort at your feet and just focus on You. On who You are and what You have done for me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
Psalm 103:11- For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him