The Perfume of Your Life

"While Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him carrying a precious jar of expensive perfume. She poured it on Jesus' head as he was at table. Seeing this the disciples became indignant, protesting, "what a useless waste! The perfume could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor." But Jesus was aware of this, so he said to them, "why are you troubling this woman? What she has just done for me is indeed a good work. Truly, I say to you: wherever the Gospel is proclaimed, all over the world, what she has done will be told in praise of her." - Matthew 26:6-10,13

Imagine causing an offense to someone you love so horrible, that when you're forgiven, your heart cannot possibly express your love, gratitude, and appreciation to that person. That was what this woman was feeling for Jesus. He was her Lord, her savior, and as we all should, she loved Jesus so deeply, that she used a very expensive perfume to annoint His head and feet.

I say that I love Jesus, but when I read this passage, I wonder, am I giving Jesus the most costly part of me? Churches nowadays are mostly filled with older people because after their children are gone, they have nothing left but the Lord. Giving Jesus the most costly part of me means following and loving Jesus when I have the whole world ahead of me because I know that without Him, there would be nothing left of me. Now, the disciples were upset that someone would "waste" expensive perfume when it could have been used for the poor. In relation to your life, I'm sure there are some that think it's a waste to devote yourself to God when you're young. Yes, you could spend it free, giving in to your every whim, following what you want to do, and then "find" God when you're older like your parents or grandparents, but shouldn't the most expensive perfume in your life be given to the Lord? Isn't that where it has the most merit in being used?

Only you can answer that…

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, may every beat of my heart and every word from my lips serve as perfume to annoint You and spread Your glory. You are my Lord and my God. In my youth, and when I'm 80 years old, I will proclaim Your goodness and Your might. In Your Name we pray, amen.