Daily Devotion-March 31, 20221

Daily Devotion-March 31, 20221

Mark 14:3-9

While Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon, the leper, as he was reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made from pure nard. She broke the alabaster jar and poured it over his head. But there were some who were indignant and said to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? Certainly, this perfume could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor!” And they began to scold her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing for me. In fact, you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you are not always going to have me. She did what she could. She anointed my body beforehand for burial. Amen, I tell you: Wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman did will also be told in memory of her.”

Dear Lord Jesus,

What Mary did that day was a beautiful thing; she had anointed you to prepare you for your death. It is interesting how this contrasts Judas, who was scolding her for what he called wasting, and a couple of days later, he would also be dead. Both these people went into the record books, one out of love and the other out of greed. The one saw you after your resurrection, while the other swung from a rope, doubting your love for him. Let us be motivated out of love for you in all we do. That we can be like Mary and have hearts of thanksgiving that overflow with love for you. Help us overcome our sinfulness when it wants to hold back from giving to you. Let us trust in your love, so one day we will see and join in your resurrection in heaven. Through faith you in Lord Jesus, we know this is certain. Amen

Vicar Roger Emmons

Love the Lord and praise him with everything you got. When we do this spontaneously, that is the fruit of faith.