|
From the Pastor...
February, 1999
DOING WHAT WE CAN FOR JESUS IN 1999
In the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 14, verses 1 - 9, we have the
beautiful story of a woman pouring expensive perfume on the head of
Jesus. When some of those present ‘rebuked her harshly’ Jesus said, "Leave her
alone. She has done a beautiful thing to me."
"She did what she could."
"She did what she could," or "she has done what was in her power
to do." This word of commendation from our Lord seems to be the pivot
around which all the teaching of this incident centers. Two great elements are
contained here: first, the element of worship and then that of service;
and as Christians we enjoy these two very wonderful privileges: that of
worship, which is giving something to the Lord, and that of service, which is
doing something for the Lord. Both these privileges blend together in Mary’s
loving act. Her worship is seen in verse 3, where she expresses her love to
the Lord in such a wonderful way; her service is seen and commended by the Lord
in verses 6 and 8. Think now of the privilege of Christian service, and of
its permanent value in God’s estimate.
- THE MEANING OF CHRISTIAN SERVICE:
What do we mean when we, as believers, talk about serving the
Lord? Often we think it means being a Minister, a Missionary, a
Sunday School Teacher. Does Christian service only consist of these! No! We
are all saved to serve. Christian service is doing things for Jesus, and
there are boundless opportunities open to us all to serve the Lord, and even
if we give a cup of cold water in His Name, we are doing this for His glory.
Notice, however, the qualifying word in our definition of Christian service.
It is doing things FOR JESUS - that is, out of love for Him and in order to
bring glory to Him. So all of us can serve.
- THE MEASURE OF CHRISTIAN SERVICE:
How much are we to do for Him? All our Lord expects is that we do
what lies in our power. This is the meaning of our Lord’s word in verse 8.
"She did what she could." If we really love the Lord, in the most unconscious
ways, we shall do what we can for Him; we shall do it for others, but in doing
it for others for Him we shall be ministering to Him. What are you doing for
Jesus? Are you doing "what you can" and serving Him to the limit of your
power?
- THE MOTIVE OF CHRISTIAN SERVICE:
What was Mary’s motive? Why did she worship the Lord in this way
and express her appreciation of Him in such loving service? She did not do it
to get recognition or to gain the Lord’s praise, but simply out of love for
Him. And that is the true motive for Christian service.
- THE MEMORIAL OF CHRISTIAN SERVICE:
In verse 9 we are told a very wonderful thing. Our Lord declared
that Mary’s loving act would never be forgotten. Mary’s simple act of
service, done for Jesus’ sake would never be lost. The record of what Mary
had done, the pleasure it brought to the Lord, and the blessing that it would
bring to millions of others, would never pass away. This tells us that every
little act done out of love for the Lord Jesus abides forever.
- LET US DO WHAT WE CAN FOR JESUS IN 1999.
In His love,
Floyd McPhee 
|
