Fragrance

This morning before opening my Bible to John 12, I lit two of my new candles and poured myself a cup of coffee. It's quiet, it's dark outside, it's still and there is a wonderful fragrance filling the air. What a way to start out the day to a brand new week.

I'm in the process of reading through the book of John, paraphrasing as I jot down the "facts" from each chapter and then of course copying, word for word, the words spoken by Jesus. Once I complete the whole book, I hope to re-read the paraphrased notes so that I can try and remember all that happened.

As I began to read chapter 12, a thought came to mind, something I haven't thought about in a while and thought it noteworthy.

John 12:3- 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.

What a display of gratitude for all Christ had done for her and her brother Lazarus whom He had just raised from the dead (Chapter 11).

As I sat here at this passage for a while I began to think about my life and whether or not it demonstrates the same affection and gratitude for HIM raising my own life from the dead. From what I read, this perfume was worth a year's wages, that's pretty expensive. You and I know there are 365 days in a year and in each day we are given breath to breathe and an opportunity to share Him with someone, to share what He's done in our lives by the way we live out our lives. This thought is not meant to heap condemnation on anyone but it's to serve as a reminder that though we can't physically place HIS nail-pierced feet in our lap, we can still wash them with our service to others, with praise and honor from our hearts and lips, with the fruit of the Spirit (don't hurry through these as you read them ) which is love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control and from the choices we make that says to Him, we are pouring out ourselves in honor to YOU for everything YOU have done for us.

Things to think about...Do I pour out my life as an offering to Him? Do I share the joy of knowing Him by the way I live my life? Ask yourself, "How can I wash HIS feet today?"

Bless someone today by demonstrating your love for HIM! As you do, I'm sure He will find your offering as a sweet fragrance, filling all of heaven.

Have a great day!