Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Boldness & Worship

SCRIPTURE
Luke 7:36-38

Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table.  When a women who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears.  Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

OBSERVATION

What a spectacle this must have been.  We have a woman breaking social rules and coming to a dinner that she wasn't invited to.  And not just any woman, but a woman who had lived a sinful life going to the home of a religious leader.  Many would consider this scandalous.  She washes Jesus' feet using her tears and her hair.  Her tears and her hair!  And then she takes expensive perfume from an expensive jar and pours it on Jesus' feet.  This is a extravagant, even ridiculous act.  The woman ignores the ridicule and judgement of others.  She is not concerned with the thoughts of others as she lavishly adores Jesus.  

APPLICATION

 This story about the woman with the alabaster jar compels me to ask the following questions:

1.  How much do I love Jesus?
2.  How do I express my love for him?

I say that I love Jesus, but at the same time I don't believe I passionately express my love for Jesus.  I allow social norms to get in my way.  I wonder what people might think of me if I do something different or unexpected in the midst of worshiping Jesus.  I need to be less self-conscious and focus more on adoring Jesus.   

PRAYER
Father God, help me to step out in bold ways while worshipping Jesus.

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