perspective from worshipping Jesus

I have continued sharing a series called BROKEN at The Community, and yesterday’s message was one that God used greatly in my life.  There are so many different aspects of this topic.  Some are positive and some are negative. 

Psalm 51:17  NASB

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

God’s desire is for us to be useful to Him.  Humility is a vital aspect to being part of God’s plan for us and for others.  We can and must acknowledge that we are weak and in need of God. 

Turn another direction.  Brokenness is difficult to deal with.  Depression, pain and more keep a person so low that they almost cannot even live life.  That is where God comes in, again, and lifts us.  God knows us well.  He knows our hearts, and He is ready and willing to help us through.

Psalm 34:18  NASB

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

In the story I shared yesterday brokenness was a part.  It is about Lazarus, Martha and Mary.  The focus is on one thing Mary did.

How we approach and worship God is a big deal.  How we look at ourselves is a big deal as well.  Notice the different players in this scene as well as their history with Jesus.  It is rich with joy, miracles and God’s love.  Let’s read:

John 12:3  NLT

Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

It was Mary who knelt as Jesus’ felt, poured her perfume on them and began to wipe his feet with her hair.  I can just imagine that she didn’t make much noise and didn’t do this for the attention it would draw her.  Mary was humble and simply desired to worship and thank Jesus.

She gave Jesus a gift of the expensive perfume.  Later Jesus said she was preparing His body for burial and what was in her heart is very important.

You can come at this story from several different angles.  Jesus was simply as a meal at a friend’s house when worship happened.  Mary made a choice to worship when others were busy serving.  Judas threw some kind of fit because the perfume was so expensive.  He wanted to miss use the money, as he had before, and used the thought of giving the money to help the poor as his excuse.

What we really know about Mary is that she was humble and acknowledged her need for Jesus.  And Jesus accepted her as she was.

John 12:32  NLT

And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.

Matthew 5:3  NASB

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Those verses exemplify what Mary did and how she lived her life.  We need to do the same.  It is time to chose humility and fall at Jesus’ feet worshipping Him.  By acknowledging our need, our pain or our weakness, we leave room for God to show up and bless our lives.

Matthew 11:28  NASB

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

His rest and peace is offered to us as we come to Him.  Mary made that choice and so should we.  There is huge perspective when we begin to worship Jesus more and more.

1 Peter 5:6  NASB

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,