Irvin Wasswa- Tylertown Campus Pastor LHBC

John 12:1-8
Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound[a] 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. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the money bag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it[c] for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

In middle school my parents bought me perhaps one of the greatest gifts I had ever received in my life: a bottle of Michael Jordan cologne! Though the cologne didn’t make me physically like MJ, I cherished it so much. In my mind it made me the flyest guy around. All of a sudden the girls were paying me attention. I had this “swag walk” when I went out and around town. With that cologne, I was the man! 

One day my friend and I went to Six Flags over Texas for the day. After letting my friend use some of the MJ cologne, he tried to take it with him into the theme park. Since it was in a glass container, the workers at the gate had to confiscate it before we went in. All of a sudden, my precious bottle of MJ cologne was gone. As an 8th grader, in my mind that bottle of cologne and my xbox were the two most valuable possessions I had, and one of them was gone. I don’t think I spoke to my friend for the rest of the day!

In John 12, we see a lady named Mary who willingly gave up one of her most expensive possessions as an offering to Jesus. This expensive nard was worth far more than the $20 dollars my parents paid for that Michael Jordan cologne. As a matter of fact, it says she could have sold it for close to a years’ worth of wages. Instead, she anointed the feet of Jesus with it. Why would she do that? Because she saw Jesus as worthy of her worship. In her choosing to anoint His feet, she was declaring that Jesus was Lord of her heart and worthy of her life. What a statement! 

Hey friend, this Jesus whom we surrendered our life to is worthy of our worship. He is worthy of our life. He is worthy enough to give Him our time and our talents. He is worthy enough to give Him our Facebook and our checkbook. HE IS WORTHY! As we continue to walk with Him, let us choose to worship Him with our lips along with our life, daily choosing to be living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to Him (Hebrews 12:1).

Do you view Jesus as worthy of your life? Does the way you use your money, spend your time, and love your family indicate that Jesus is at the center of your life? This morning as you reflect, I encourage you to choose to emulate Mary’s heart. She saw Jesus as worthy of it all, and that was reflected in her offering to Him. Choose to die to self and live for Him. That is our greatest offering we can give!

PRAYER FOR TODAY: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for Your love for me! You are worthy of my life. I surrender to You today. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever