"Now when Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,
a woman came up to him with an alabaster jar of costly perfumed oil, and poured it on his head while he was reclining at table.
When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and said, "Why this waste?
It could have been sold for much, and the money given to the poor."
a woman came up to him with an alabaster jar of costly perfumed oil, and poured it on his head while he was reclining at table.
When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and said, "Why this waste?
It could have been sold for much, and the money given to the poor."
Since Jesus knew this, he said to them, "Why do you make trouble for the woman?
She has done a good thing for me."
Matthew 26:7-10
***
If I remembered it right, it was the last week of August when God gave me this passage on 'Alabaster Jar'. It was during those times that I was asking alot of questions to God about a certain issue. I was struggling to be still and I was demanding God to give me a clear and solid instruction because I couldn't stay in the situation any longer.
But instead of answering me, He gave me Mary's story of extravagant worship.
My first reaction was,
"Lord, do you want me to offer something that is expensive and precious?"
I knew in my heart where God was leading me. Or should I say, I knew what was the 'expensive and precious' thing that He wanted.
It was him. A very precious person in my life.
Two years ago, God asked me to start praying for him. I was not sure if it will lead to something romantic or God just wanted me to be his prayer support. I wasn't really sure, but still I obeyed.
I prayed for him regularly. He doesn't know about this and I don't have any plans of telling him. Eventhough my prayers were somehow the same prayers i have for my other friends, his became special.
And the more I prayed, the more I invested affections.
And now, after two long years, God wanted me to offer all these, all my prayers and hopes that sprang up from this.
It crushed me. I was confused.
He placed me here and now he wanted me out. Just like that. No explanation.
After meditating the story of Mary and the Alabaster Jar, I realized what real worship is...
To hold everything loosely and worship God in every way possible.
God wanted to see if I was willing to give Him the most extravagant worship I could offer...
My prayers, affection and love for him...and even my desire to be with him in the future.
I thought I couldn't do it. It was just beyond my wisdom how I could show my extravangant worship without being bitter about the whole situation.
But God made me understand that my focus turned to promise and not to the Promise-giver. My attitude changed from trusting to complaining.
That's why He's asking this offering, because more than anything, He wants me back in His arms.
So just recently, I broke my Alabaster Jar of Prayers and Affection.
And yes, I cried at His feet whem I did this. Not because it was painful, but because I realized I love my Saviour more than anything...and I was very sorry for not showing this for the longest time.
To end, I did not gave him up, I gave him to the Lord.
But instead of answering me, He gave me Mary's story of extravagant worship.
My first reaction was,
"Lord, do you want me to offer something that is expensive and precious?"
I knew in my heart where God was leading me. Or should I say, I knew what was the 'expensive and precious' thing that He wanted.
It was him. A very precious person in my life.
Two years ago, God asked me to start praying for him. I was not sure if it will lead to something romantic or God just wanted me to be his prayer support. I wasn't really sure, but still I obeyed.
I prayed for him regularly. He doesn't know about this and I don't have any plans of telling him. Eventhough my prayers were somehow the same prayers i have for my other friends, his became special.
And the more I prayed, the more I invested affections.
And now, after two long years, God wanted me to offer all these, all my prayers and hopes that sprang up from this.
It crushed me. I was confused.
He placed me here and now he wanted me out. Just like that. No explanation.
After meditating the story of Mary and the Alabaster Jar, I realized what real worship is...
To hold everything loosely and worship God in every way possible.
God wanted to see if I was willing to give Him the most extravagant worship I could offer...
My prayers, affection and love for him...and even my desire to be with him in the future.
I thought I couldn't do it. It was just beyond my wisdom how I could show my extravangant worship without being bitter about the whole situation.
But God made me understand that my focus turned to promise and not to the Promise-giver. My attitude changed from trusting to complaining.
That's why He's asking this offering, because more than anything, He wants me back in His arms.
So just recently, I broke my Alabaster Jar of Prayers and Affection.
And yes, I cried at His feet whem I did this. Not because it was painful, but because I realized I love my Saviour more than anything...and I was very sorry for not showing this for the longest time.
To end, I did not gave him up, I gave him to the Lord.
