“But Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.
For you always have the poor with you…but you will not always have me.’”
Mark 14:6-7
The woman in this passage poured out an offering of great sacrifice, seeing Jesus’ worth and taking this opportunity to express her love for Him. The disciples, in this instance, only saw the value of the oil used to anoint Him and, rather than perceiving in it a reflection of His surpassing value, instead lamented its loss as wasted.
The disciples were taking the presence of Jesus among them for granted.
How often do we do the same?
“For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere” (Psalm 84:10a). How often do we forget this? Becoming complacent, perhaps even because of the constancy of Christ? Oh, may the faithfulness of His Spirit in us not lead us to neglect the treasure that He is!
May we pour ourselves out, giving generously and pursuing Him without reservation, seeing His worth and all-surpassing value. Knowing that as we give of ourselves, He promises that “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap” (Luke 6:38). Our God will give us what we need, filling us to overflowing.
When we give all to Him, we gain everything. When we fix our eyes on Christ, when He is the focus of our life and its very definition, He brings our life purpose and fullness, because He fills it – He fills us – with Himself. In infinite value and glory.
We will not lose Christ; He will not allow that to happen. But we can miss out on wonders and beauty and the deep, abiding joy and satisfaction of abundant life.
We can miss out on knowing that a day in His courts, a day intentionally dwelling in the presence of the Most High God who draws near to us when we draw near to Him, is far better than a thousand days spent elsewhere.
Let us seek Him, always. Not the elsewhere. Only here, with Christ, can we bear fruit. Only here can we accomplish anything of true, lasting value. Don’t miss out on the beauty of Him. Don’t let your heart stray.
You can’t lose Him – rejoice in this, in His steadfastness! And press into Him to discover all the more what this means. Be captivated by the wonder of who this God is who gave His life to draw all people to himself. Even while we were sinners. Even when we wanted no part of Him. So that He could set us free and give us life.
Let your heart be captured again by this One whose value far surpasses all else. His infinite, unsearchable greatness is able to continue captivating you with depth for as long as you will seek Him. Into the reaches of eternity.
In Pleasant Places 