Nothing Too Costly

For the love of Christ constraineth us. 2 Corinthians 5:14.
Christ delighted in the earnest desire of Mary to do the will of her Lord. He accepted the wealth of pure affection which His disciples did not, would not, understand. The desire that Mary had to do this service for her Lord was of more value to Christ than all the precious ointment in the world, because it expressed her appreciation of the world’s Redeemer. It was the love of Christ that constrained her. The matchless excellence of the character of Christ filled her soul. That ointment was a symbol of the heart of the giver. It was the outward demonstration of a love fed by heavenly streams until it overflowed.
The work of Mary was just the lesson the disciples needed to show them that the expression of their love for Him would be pleasing to Christ. He had been everything to them, and they did not realize that soon they would be deprived of His presence, that soon they could offer Him no token of their gratitude for His great love. The loneliness of Christ, separated from the heavenly courts, living the life of humanity, was never understood or appreciated by the disciples as it should have been….
Their afterknowledge gave them a true sense of the many things they might have done for Jesus expressive of the love and gratitude of their hearts…. When Jesus was no longer with them, … they began to see how they might have shown Him attentions that would have brought gladness to His heart. They no longer cast blame upon Mary, but upon themselves. Oh, if they could have taken back their censuring, their presenting the poor as more worthy of the gift than was Christ! They felt the reproof keenly as they took from the cross the bruised body of their Lord.
The same want is evident in our world today. But few appreciate all that Christ is to them. If they did, the great love of Mary would be expressed, the anointing would be freely bestowed. The expensive ointment would not be called a waste. Nothing would be thought too costly to give for Christ, no self-denial or self-sacrifice too great to be endured for His sake.
Conflict and Courage p. 307
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Rod who was hit by an oncoming car and has been in rehab for some weeks. He was sent home a month earlier than he should have because Medicare and his secondary insurance dropped him. They have a house that is not built for someone in a wheelchair, so things are really tough for them and they really need prayer. D
—–I am asking prayer for a God-fearing friend; Kathy. She has pulled her neck and shoulder muscles and has been in pain. K
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Dear Friends,
The summer we lived in a campground, Ronnie Jay and his friend Lindon had many good times together. Those two little boys could think of many things to do. Some of those things got them into trouble. The campground had a swimming pool and many of the campers enjoyed the cool water. The boys decided that the toads that lived everywhere around would enjoy a swim too. They caught some and tossed them into the pool. They were surprised that the toads were not happy with their swim. They also found that those toads made the girls scream. That was all two little boys needed to give them entertainment. After that they tossed a few toads in occasionally just to hear the screams of fright.
Those girls were afraid, too, of the bats that flew around the lights that were around the pool at night. The bats were not interested in the people, they were getting a nice meal of insects that were attracted to the lights. But these girls did not understand, so they were frightened.
Often times we react in the same way to a situation that we do not understand. Often times we figuratively fight and kick and scream when things go wrong in our lives. Often times we think God is unfair in His dealings with us, but we do not see the whole picture. We do not see that the very thing that is so distasteful to us, is the very thing we must go through to make us ready for Heaven. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Rom 8:28 Just as Job did not understand why all the trouble was happening to him, sometimes we do not understand why things are happening to us or to those we love. But God has not left us to wonder, for God’s Word reveals what goes on behind the scenes. The story of Job was written to give us comfort and hope when we are going through trials.
God comforts us with His great promises. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jer 29:11-13 “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God.” Isa 43:1-3 “He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame, he remembereth that we are dust.” Psa 103:10-14 “Trust in the LORD, and do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD, trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him.” Psa 37:3-7 “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” Psa 107:15
May we trust Him today. May we allow Him to work in our lives in the way He knows is best. May we daily look for His blessings in our lives and praise and thank Him for them.
Rose