19 MAY
RIGHT PRIORITIES (4)
(MARY)
“Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”
(John 12:3)
In those times, people were anointed for burial or consecration. Did Mary have a revelational knowledge of the impending death of our Lord? Maybe. Many of us have been saved from some tragic or negative situations, made some achievements or obtained some favours because we did something we might not have understood then as God’s direction, or because we received a revelation or word of wisdom, which we obeyed.
Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with ointment worth a year’s salary. In this act of devotion, she gave a material expression of her esteem for Him. Jesus’ reply as recorded in Matthew and Mark shows his appreciation: “I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” This reminds me of the Hymn, I Gave My Life by Frances Havergal.
| 1 | I gave My life for thee, My precious blood I shed, | 3 | I suffered much for thee, more than thy tongue can tell, |
| That thou might ransomed be, and raised up from the dead | Of bitterest agony, to rescue thee from hell. | ||
| I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou given for Me? | I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee, what hast thou borne for Me? | ||
| I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou given for Me? | I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee, what hast thou borne for Me? | ||
| 2 | My Father’s house of light, My glory circled throne | 4 | And I have brought to thee, down from My home above, |
| I left for earthly night, for wanderings sad and lone; | Salvation full and free, My pardon and My love; | ||
| I left, I left it all for thee, hast thou left aught for Me? | I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, what hast thou brought to Me? | ||
| I left, I left it all for thee, hast thou left aught for Me? | I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, what hast thou brought to Me? |
ACTION: What are you doing with what you have heard and learnt? What are you giving to Jesus who gave His all for you? If the Bible was written in our time, how would your part in the “Acts of Apostles” be written?
PRAYER: Lord, grant me grace to give you my heartfelt devotion.