A CALL TO TRUE WORSHIP “Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.” Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead” (Jn 12:1-9) The story above is one of the most significant in the Bible. It looks like ‘a thanksgiving party’ in the house of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. His sickness, death and resurrection attracted many people from far and near. As usual, Martha is busy serving. Lazarus sits at the table with Jesus. It is on record that many people did not come to see Jesus, but Lazarus, who is now the center of attention in that party. Suddenly, Mary does a strange thing. She brings her most precious possession, a perfume bottle filled with fragrant oil. The value of that spikenard was a year wages. To work one year for just a box of perfume, that is expensive indeed. Mary breaks the seal of that bottle and uses the oil to anoint the feet of Jesus. Then she uses her hair to wipe them. This is a public act of pure extravagant worship. What Mary does is to redirect the attention from Lazarus (who is her brother) to Jesus (who is her Lord). Lazarus represents the ministry of Jesus, His wonderful works. But a true worshipper will not be distracted even by ministry. Like Mary, she will direct people’s attention to the person of Jesus Christ, who alone is worthy to receive all our worship. True worship will force the devil to manifest. Judas cannot keep quiet in the presence of such open love towards Jesus. He criticizes her worship calling it a waste. He says that the money could have been used for the ministry of helps. The traitor and the thief they always look generous but God knows their hearts. In many churches the worship has been quenched by unholy administrators, business men and politicians. People go to church to see Lazarus first and Jesus second. The Holy Spirit has been grieved. The ‘worship team’ is nothing more than a group of singers. The pastor is a ‘spiritual’ business man. The congregation waits for entertainment, for rice and stew. People like Mary have long been sent away, counted as crazy and disturbing the order of the place. But a church without true worship is dead. Whatever else is offered on that altar, death has the stamp on it. This is a call to true worship to come back to our churches! To praise God is not easy. Praise is a sacrifice. It is hard to make a choice to reject all other anxious thoughts, to remember only God, to fix your attention on Jesus, even if for few minutes. The cares of this life are very loud, selfish, stubborn and persistent. It is not easy to lift your heart, your hands and your voice to worship God, even when you are sick or jobless. That is a sacrifice indeed. But God blesses this sacrifice with His presence. And the presence of God brings life, peace, joy and hope. The presence of God is the secret of a living church. Nothing else can compare with it. The Father is seeking worshipers who will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth! May the true Marys of this world be encouraged today! Continue to worship God with all your heart! Do not be afraid of men’s voices! Do not be ashamed of your Lord! This so called ‘waste’ is the engine that moves the heart of God! Let the worship continue! “Lord, You alone are worthy…”
Posted on: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 11:26:32 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015