I love the smell of perfume! Of course, only the good smelling kind. You know what I mean?
Recently around my house we have been knee deep in a major project, which has occupied a lot of my time. I'm feeling the strain of it all...emotionally, physically and spiritually. It has taken captive of my mind during the day AND night. I've become sleep deprived, some nights only getting 3 hours of sleep. Tonight is yet again, one of those nights.
During this project, I have consulted many YouTube videos, how-to articles and even asked some professionals for advice. But, I was still running into trouble. The one particular problem I am having, Google didn't have the answer to! So, it yet again has robbed me of my sleep, trying to figure it out at 3 a.m. You see, during this project I had only consulted God ONE time for wisdom, only when I couldn't figure it out. ONE. Oh, how the Lord still has His work cut out on me!
This 3 a.m. wake up call was different.
Before I had went to sleep, a friend had messaged me saying that praying will help. Well, of course it would! I mean, I "know" this, but had I been practicing it? Nope. After waking up, I went to the living room and instead of opening my YouTube app, I opened up God's Word. I began praying for His wisdom and guess what happened? He gave me the solution. Huh. Guess how much time that took? 2 minutes.
When I opened up God's Word to Mark 14, Mary had broken open a bottle of very expensive perfume and poured it on the head and feet of Jesus. While this encounter can be found in Matthew 26:6-13 and Mark 14:3-9, let's look at it in John 12:1-8 (NIV).
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
Martha was being Martha—only serving. Always doing the busy work! (We find more of those ladies in Luke 10:38-42. Martha cracks me up—maybe because I can relate? HA!)
Did you catch what Mary did? Literally poured out a bottle of perfume on His body and wiped it with her hair. She loved Jesus. I mean, really LOVED Him! So much that she didn't care that the perfume cost a year's worth of wages. Nothing else around her mattered in that moment but Him. She didn't care about the cost of it financially or care what other's said against her. This perfume wasn't "wasted" on Jesus. It was poured over Him because she loved Him. He.was.her.world!
God really spoke to me with this scripture in the night. Do I love Him, like Mary, where I put everything aside to worship Him for a few moments? Do I love Him enough to where I put Him FIRST before I begin my day of current projects? Do I take the time, daily, to sit at His feet and pour out everything I have? Not for my gain, but because I LOVE Him?
Wow. Step back.
While I was working, He was on my mind, but I never just talked to Him about it. Telling Him my troubles and laying it at His feet. What makes me even more in awe of Him is that something as little as a question on a project, He cares about. Why? Because consulting Him acknowledges Him for being an all-knowing, powerful God. I don't know everything but He does. I'm putting Him in His rightful place and me in my place—on my knees. I NEED Him terribly and I can't do anything on my own.
One thing I love about Jesus is that He is ALWAYS faithful to bring me back around to His Truth and what truly matters in this life—Him.
I don't know about you, but the next time I spray my perfume or smell it on others, I'm going to think of Jesus. Yes, even the kind of overpowers you where you can't breath! HA! I will take the time in that moment to truly worship Him for who He is. Just as the smell of perfume can give feelings of bliss, I'll remember the JOY that only Jesus can give. Are you with me?
Money's not everything. Projects aren't everything. Jesus IS everything!