Anglican Devotional 29 July 2022 – Give Your Best To The Lord

The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 29 July 2022 – Give Your Best To The Lord

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TOPIC: Give Your Best To The Lord

TEXT: John 12:1-8 (NKJV)

1. Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead.
2. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him.
3. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
4. Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s [son,] who would betray Him, said,
5. “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”
6. This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.
7. But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial.
8. “For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”

THE MESSAGE:

Today’s passage reveals to us the expression of the love Mary had for Jesus. Six days before the Passover, the time when Jesus would host the Last Supper, just before His crucifixion, He came to the house of Simon the Leper; Mary, Martha and Lazarus were present. Jesus was received gladly and honoured as the special guest by His friends in the house of Simon the Leper. The encounter they had with Jesus made them surrender what they had to Him. Lazarus gave his time and attention to Him by listening to His word. Martha served Him while Mary lavished an expensive ointment on Him. Jesus Christ expects nothing but the best from you. You should give your best to the Lord at all times.

The ointment Mary poured on Jesus Christ was an expensive one (verse 3). The response of Judas Iscariot was a clear indication that the ointment was very valuable (verse 4). That shows how much Mary loved Jesus. Many people who claim to love Jesus, are not willing to give Him their best. They have never come to know Him to the point where they are willing to offer Him the best of their lives. Love can only be expressed through giving. God loves the world and He gave His only begotten Son, so that anyone who accepts Him will not perish (John 3:16).

Abraham loved God and he was ready to offer Isaac his son as a sacrifice to Him. It is in this light you should also give your best to the Lord. The most precious gift you can offer to Jesus Christ is your life. Giving other things to the Lord will be much easier thereafter (Romans 12:1-3). You can never regret doing so.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, grant me the grace to offer my life to You as a living sacrifice, in Jesus’ name. Amen.