Daily devotion: The cost of worship.
The Costly Fragrance of True Worship
Matthew 26:6–13
Matthew 26:6–7
“And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, 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.”
John’s Gospel tells us that this woman was Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. She appears three times in Scripture, and each time we find her at the feet of Jesus. Mary was a worshipper.
When do we truly become worshippers? Often it is when we are broken—at the end of ourselves, when things are rough, and we humble our hearts before the Lord. In those moments, worship flows naturally.
But worship does not only come from brokenness. True worship is often costly.
It cost Mary 300 denarii—about a year’s wages.
So we must ask ourselves: What does worship cost you and me?
When the disciples saw what Mary had done, they were indignant. Judas, in particular, led the charge:
“Why this waste?”
How revealing of the heart behind such words.
Jesus immediately defended Mary:
“Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me.”
Worship may be costly.
Worship may be misunderstood.
But worship is always beneficial.
After Mary anointed Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair, something remarkable happened—her hair took on the same beautiful fragrance as His feet. That is what true worship does. When we pour ourselves out before the Lord, we begin to carry the fragrance of Christ.
Mary had to break the alabaster box. There was no going back. And when it was broken, the whole house was filled with the aroma of the ointment.
So let us ask:
How is your marriage?
How are your relationships with your children?
Let us follow Mary’s example. Gather your family. Stop everything else. Remove distractions. Seek the Lord together and invite His presence into that moment.
The key is not always counselling or child-rearing classes—helpful as those may be.
The real power is found at the feet of Jesus.
Just like Mary.