“A woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, ‘Why this waste? For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.’
But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, ‘Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.’”
April 13, 2024
When you give Christ something, He’ll receive it. He doesn’t ask for what you don’t have; He asks for what you do have. God is not asking for what you cannot do; He’s asking for what you can do. He’s asking you to give what you do have. When you give it to Him, when it is touched by Christ, it can be transformed by Christ.
Jesus fed the multitude. Don’t insult God by saying He cannot use you. God specializes in using ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Think about Mary, who brought that sweet perfume, anointed the feet of Jesus, and bathed His feet with her tears. Jesus said of that woman, who did what she could, “Wherever this gospel is preached, what she’s done will be told of her around the world” (Matthew 26:13, author’s paraphrase). You see, the world is still filled with the perfume of a little woman who bathed the feet of Jesus. She did what she could. What do you need to surrender to Jesus? He can use what little you have in a powerful way. Just take that first step to bring it to Him.
Consider one thing you could give to God. Pray and surrender that to Him today.
Just as plants need certain essentials to grow—light, water, and fertile soil—so do new Christians, babes in the faith. Without these essential basic truths of the faith, they will never establish strong roots or bear fruit. What Every Christian Ought to Know is a valuable volume for new Christians and young disciples and a suitably instructive resource for believers of all ages. This new paperback edition includes discussion questions for personal reflection or group study.