Are you stuck in the rut of what others say you have to do? Do you allow others to dictate exactly what worship entails for you personally?
Read me clear here. I am talking about your personal worship, not corporate worship. I will never support an individual trying to force their agenda, style, or “expert opinions” on a pastoral body and get away with it. No congregate or member of a team has the authority to change what God has directed their pastor to do for corporate worship.
We do have authority over our personal worship, though. This is where we can let our one-on-one relationship with Jesus shine. See, God wants you to hear what He wants from you as an individual. Maybe it will look outlandish to someone else, but that’s because God chose a different form of service for them. Read Mark 14:3-9.
While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.
“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” Mark 14:3-9
New International Version
To everyone else, pouring our that perfume seemed like a waste of money. They were used to their worship involving feeding the poor and providing for others. It isn’t wrong to be called in different ways by God, but it is wrong to look down on how God used someone else.
Jesus appreciated her actions , her obedience, so greatly that He made sure that she would be remembered by all Christians to come. He plainly states, “She did what she could.” What beautiful words those are. Imagine standing before the King of Kings hearing Him say, “you did what you could.”
On the flip-side, what if you let others force you into a mold? What if you never break free from what they insist you have to do. Here we enter the big “Status Quo” scene in High School Musical. Will you be a Rebel and let your personality, individuality shine? Or will you “stick to the stuff you know”?
Imagine standing in front of Jesus who has tears in His eyes, “you didn’t give me everything.” The sting would be heart breaking. The tears would start falling and regret immeasurable. But look at us everyday. Instead of asking God what we should do, we conform to someone else’s model that works for them. Does it really count as giving your all if you don’t have to sacrifice anything to do it? Does it really count if you didn’t ask God’s opinion first?
I want to challenge you today to ask God what He wants from you. He might not tell you right away, but keep at it. He waits until you prove that you want to know. Be persistent!
Let me once again extend an invitation of a relationship with Jesus. You don’t want to wait because today could be your last day. I don’t want to wake up in Heaven and you not be there. I don’t want you to live in eternal pain. Jesus doesn’t want to lose you to Hell. Now is the time.
