Read:

John 12:3

³ Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

Proverbs 31:29-31  

²⁹ Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. ³⁰ Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. ³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Exhortation:

Mary’s heart was very warm, and she felt she must do something. She did not ask anybody, however, for her own mind was inventive. She had a special way of serving the Master, which her love suggested. She came to unfold her special gift that she might honour her glorious Saviour, Jesus the Lord. She came with a pound of ointment of spikenard to anoint Jesus. It was very costly. But in her heart it was never too costly to give to Him. There was a pound of it, but in her heart it was none too much for Him. It was very sweet, but none too sweet for Him. She brought the pound of ointment, and poured it upon His feet as He sat at the table, and then began to wipe His feet with the hairs of her head. Thus she consecrated her valued treasure as well as her personal beauty (her hair) to the blessed Lord whom she both loved and adored. She had found something to do for Him, and it was not the least of the three works of love the siblings offered to Him.

And the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Notice that the house was not filled with the odour of the ointment because Mary run into every room, letting every one know the kind of offering she has for the Lord. She did not care whether the house was perfumed or not, she only wanted to anoint her Lord, and therefore she poured all the ointment on His feet. The result was that the rooms were perfumed, but that was not her main object. Though she quietly did the anointing of her Lord, everyone knew it by her pouring it all out at His feet. Likewise, we don’t have to tell aloud of what we are doing for the Lord. Let’s pour our loving service at Jesus’ feet. Soon every room will be sweet with the aroma of our loving love offerings. We need, nowadays, to have a little less talk about what we are and much more actual living unto Jesus.

Thought:

Hesitate not, but cast yourself and all that are yours at Jesus’ feet, for He is Lord!

PRAYER

O Lord, teach me to serve You in a gentle and unassuming manner. May my whole-hearted service be a sweet smelling sacrifice to You, and thus a blessing to all who are around!