A Gift of Love

She hath done what she could. Mark 14:8.
Simon of Bethany was accounted a disciple of Jesus. He was one of the few Pharisees who had openly joined Christ’s followers. He acknowledged Jesus as a teacher, and hoped that He might be the Messiah, but he had not accepted Him as a Saviour. His character was not transformed; his principles were unchanged.
Simon had been healed of the leprosy, and it was this that had drawn him to Jesus. He desired to show his gratitude, and at Christ’s last visit to Bethany he made a feast for the Saviour and His disciples…. At the table the Saviour sat with Simon… on one side, and Lazarus … on the other. Martha served at the table, but Mary was earnestly listening to every word from the lips of Jesus. In His mercy, Jesus had pardoned her sins, He had called forth her beloved brother from the grave, and Mary’s heart was filled with gratitude. She had heard Jesus speak of His approaching death, and in her deep love and sorrow she had longed to show Him honor. At great personal sacrifice she had purchased an alabaster box of “ointment of spikenard, very costly,” with which to anoint His body. But now many were declaring that He was about to be crowned king. Her grief was turned to joy, and she was eager to be first in honoring her Lord. Breaking her box of ointment, she poured its contents upon the head and feet of Jesus; then, as she knelt weeping, moistening them with her tears, she wiped His feet with her long, flowing hair….
Judas looked upon this act with great displeasure…. He asked, “Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?” … The murmur passed round the table, “To what purpose is this waste?…” Mary heard the words of criticism…. She was about to shrink away, when the voice of her Lord was heard, “Let her alone; why trouble ye her?”… Lifting His voice above the murmur of criticism, He said, “She hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.
Conflict and Courage p. 305
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Joyce. She is in severe pain. Rose
—–I need prayer for work to keep my current full time job. We have executives from two companies meeting today. Ann
—–My aunt passed away peacefully today. I continue to ask for your prayers for my family as we have to say goodbye for now. John
—–Please pray that my son will give up drinking and give his heart to God. Lynn
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Dear Friends,
This past week, someone mentioned something that reminded me of some well-loved books that my mother’s grandmother gave her when she was a very little girl. She instructed her to be very careful with these books as someday she could give them to her little girl. One was a fanciful story entitled “Honey Bear.” It was about a bear who invited the woodcutter’s toddler to supper. The other two were “Flower Children.” These books had illustrations of flowers, each made to look like a child. The stem was the body, the leaves were the arms, and the blossom, the hat. Under each drawing was a poem that told a little about the flower. My mother was thrilled. She loved her father’s mother dearly and cherished those books. Eventually, the cover of “Honey Bear” became torn, so her father bound it in fine, red leather.
When my mother had me, she sometimes would read those books to me or let me sit on my grandmother’s horsehair sofa and look at the illustrations. I was instructed to be very careful with those books. I especially liked the “Flower Children” book. For hours I would look at those books noticing every detail of each blossom and leaf. I can still see some of those illustrations in my mind’s eye.
Eventually, my mother gave me those three books. Throughout the years, I kept those books as nice as the day I received them. I had intended that someday I would give them to my children. No matter how many times I moved from place to place, I carefully guarded those books. They were very dear to me. Not only did I enjoy them, but the fact that my great-grandmother had given them to my mother when she was a small child made them very precious.
When Ronnie Jay was two months old, our house caught on fire. It destroyed everything: my piano, my accordion, my guitar, all my photographs, my collection of piano music all our books including those cherished books. All we had left were the clothes we were wearing, yet I was very thankful that we were unhurt.
How quickly the things of this world can pass away. We can not rely upon them for in a few moments, all of our possessions can be destroyed. Our Loving Saviour advises, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:19-21 Like Abraham, we can sojourn in this land “as in a strange country. . . [looking] for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Heb 11:9,10
Although the things of this earth are fleeting, we have an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast. God’s Word endures forever! It will never be destroyed! Jesus assures us, “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” Luke 21:33 “The word of the Lord endureth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:25 “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven….Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” Ps 119:89,160
“Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.” Ps 119:12-16 “Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee.” vs 11 “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” Rom 11:33 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Ps 1:1,2
Let us keep our eyes on the promise that our Loving Redeemer will soon take us to His Heavenly Country. Let us meditate upon God’s Holy Word which is the one sure thing on which we can rely. Let us turn aside from the things of this world that can perish in a moment and keep our focus on the Firm Foundation which will never pass away, even our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Rose