The Lord has continually been speaking to me about loving him with all of my heart, mind, and soul. For me to be obedient out of a genuine, passionate desire that comes from within, and loving my neighbor as myself. I've asked him to search my heart and show me how I can love him more. I've asked "Where are areas that I am withholding my love for you? and for others?" It's been funny how I wrote a blog about what has been on my heart, then several people have came up and discussed the same things with me, and then I was reading chapter seven of Captivating and on page 126 it began to discuss the exact things that have been on my heart, and what I had just read about Mary of Bethany in Matthew the day before. So, I just wanted to share so tidbits from my heart about what I read.
Now let's think back to the story of the woman that came into the home of Simon the Leper. She entered and came to Jesus with a very expensive jar of perfume. She poured it on his head as he was reclining at the table. The disciples were indignant. They thought it was a waste, that she could have sold it and given the money to the poor. They failed to realize the importance of what she had done. Jesus said "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial." He said that the story of her would be told whenever the gospel is proclaimed around the world. It was an extravagant act of sacrificial worship, and Jesus was moved by it. Jesus is moved when we praise him, when we live a life of sacrificial worship. He is so glorious, so good to all who love him. Oh how I just want to love him more and more. I yearn to become more intimate with my bridegroom. I pray that my life is a life of sacrificial worship, pleasing to my love.
I continued reading that same day, focusing on Jesus, and I read about Judas. Jesus knew that Judas was going to betray him, for it had to happen for Scripture to be fulfilled. For such a cheap price, Judas turned him in, when Jesus' life costs more than anyone could ever give. A deathly kiss for thirty pieces of silver. Yet when Judas kissed Jesus, it says in Matthew that Jesus replied, "Do what you came for, friend." My jaw dropped. I had read this before. But somehow I overlooked that one word. Jesus still called him friend. He knew Judas was going to betray him. He knew it had to be done. But he loved him so much that he still called him friend. How many times do we turn our back on Jesus? How often do we betray him? Yet he loves us so much, and is so forgiving, that he still calls us friends. I'm so thankful for Jesus laying his life down for those he desires to call friends. I am so thankful for His blood that was shed, so that those who believe in him will be set free of their filth, their sin. I am so thankful that I have been made new in Him, washed of my old self, no longer chained to the sin that held me in bondage, but set free to experience an abundant life in Christ. There is no greater love.
As I read a little further, I read about Peter disowning Jesus. Jesus told him that he would disown him three times before the rooster crows, but Peter didn't believe him. As people came up to him, Peter ended up disowning Jesus three times. As I was reading this, verse 73 stuck out to me particularly because someone came up to Peter and said "Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away." Now, this refers to him being a Galilean, but it made me think a little deeper than that. It made me think of what I say...how I talk...what my conversations are like with God, with others...If am spending time with Jesus and allowing the Spirit to make me more like him, I should speak more like him and sound like him to others. When they talk to me, they should recognize that I am His child by the words of grace and salt that are uttered from my lips. I pray that this is true. Something else that I honestly was convicted of was that I, too, have been like Peter. I have disowned Jesus many times. There were moments when I was afraid to share who Jesus is or what He has done, when I was uncomfortable, when I cared too much about what others thought, when I was afraid of offending someone or receiving persecution. I have been Peter. This brought me to my knees, and I, too, have wept like Peter. I'm so thankful that he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
May fellow believers and myself boldly proclaim the gospel (Romans 1:16), allowing the Spirit to give us the right words at the right time, to provide us with courage to share, to love, to give, to serve and to heal. To provide us with strength to endure whatever may come our way. In everything, may we be solely dependent upon the Lord. May we not grow weary in doing good because we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Let us cling to Christ and His promises that remain true, always.
Hebrews 13:15-16 "Therefore Jesus, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise -- the fruit of the lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
I pray that you have been encouraged. If you are reading this and do not know Jesus, I pray that you seek out who He is, that you ask questions and that you come to Him.
Much Love.
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