Today is Valentine’s Day. The day when there will be no limit to the purchase of expensive flowers, decadent chocolates, and admired jewelry. There will not be a single table available in restaurants for days.
Valentine’s Day – the day to express or display our love for the special person in our lives.
This morning I read of the woman who came with her alabaster jar to the feet of Jesus. Scripture tells us it was filled with expensive perfume. Expensive as in, it was worth an entire year’s salary. Think of the extravagance which was displayed in a single moment. We often concentrate on the reaction of the disciples, who publicly expressed the waste which had occurred.
But my attention was caught by the words of Jesus:
“When Jesus realized what was going on, he intervened. “Why are you giving this woman a hard time? She has just done something wonderfully significant for me.”
(Matthew 26:10, MSG)
Jesus came to the defense of this woman’s actions. He put an end to the hard time they were all giving her. More so, He commended her in front of them, stating what she has done was wonderfully significant for Him. Her actions had deep and special meaning for Him.
In his book, Tables in the Wilderness, Watchman Nee asks this poignant question of us all:
When the Lord returns and we see Him face to face, I trust that we shall all pour out our treasures at His feet. But today – what are we doing today?
Today is all we have available to us. There are no guarantees given on tomorrow. What are we doing with this 24 hour segment known as today?
- to express our love and devotion to God
- to tell our family and friends they are special
- to convey to others the love of God towards them
- to be the hand offering help
We don’t want to give what seems to be a good idea or we desire to give. We want to give what we hope will be “wonderfully significant” for them. It is what will have the most important and powerful effect or influence.
Watchman Nee explains further:
Several days after Mary broke the alabaster box and poured the ointment on Jesus’ head, there were some women who went early in the morning to anoint His body. Did they do it? Did they succeed in their purpose on that first day of the week? No, He was gone! There was only one soul who in fact succeeded in anointing the body of the Lord, and it was Mary, who anointed Him before hand. All the others were too late, for He had risen.
The pressing question on the table is …
What will you do with Today?
Today I am joining … Porch Stories and Tell His Story and Coffee For Your Heart and Woman to Woman .
Joanne,
I love the story of Mary here. Just realized we have the same word for 2018, focus. Praying God blesses you and your family. Thank you for this encouragement to find daily focus in how we live as we glorify him.
Meghan, thank you for pointing out we share the same word. I hope you share about what you discover as you focus. I want to learn all the Lord has for me on this word this year. Blessings!
This is beautiful. Thank you for reminding me of this important love story.
Mary, whenever she shows up in the NT narrative, always seems to have her heart in the right place. Thanks for putting the spotlight on her surrendered heart of love as a Valentine to all your readers!
She truly does and therefore, she is constantly teaching me!
When we pour ourselves out fully at the feet of Jesus He will always honor that. I needed to remember this truth. Especially today.
It’s easy to look at how I’m not getting what I thought I should on a day like today, but it never was about the receiving. Give fully and you will be honored.
I long to be like that woman, unashamed and pouring myself out fully at Jesus’ feet.
Me too, Becky, me too. Mary – a life surrendered and honoring Him.
“Wonderfully significant” is a phrase I haven’t thought about in that context, but I really love it, especially today on a holiday that so inundated with temporary expressions of love. Thanks for sharing this and linking up at #PorchStories.
A beautiful story of love and wonderfully significant! ♥
Definitely poignant that the two stories (of desiring to anoint Jesus) so closely follow one another…..and of those who missed the opportunity. Wow. What a great picture of needing to “redeem the time”! Thanks –
I was so grateful for how these two stories aligned and for the thoughts which Watchman Nee brought to light.
This should be our new mantra for Valentine’s Day and every day!