Have you experienced goose bumps? Goose bumps when the Holy Spirit is present and there is a sensation of electricity in the air? I had such an experience in China.
I was in a student’s dorm room. We were sitting on wooden furniture with no cushions. The floor decor was a concrete slab. We were wearing coats because the room was not heated. A handful of university students were there to hear what I had to say about Jesus.
The anointing of God flowed when I began to tell the story of what one woman did for Jesus. A prophecy of Jesus was fulfilled that night.
Here I am telling the story again. More people from faraway places may hear this story for the first time. The Lord said that this story will be heard wherever the Gospel is preached.
This story began in the little town of Bethany. Jesus and His disciples were sitting in the home of a man with leprosy. Suddenly, a woman with expensive perfume entered the room, broke it’s jar open and poured the perfume on Jesus. [1]
Her deed drew an immediate reaction from some. Some angrily vented, “’Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.’ They criticized her sharply.” [2]
Who did Jesus defend in this room? He turned to the woman’s critics and said to them, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have with you always. She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this Gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” [3]
She did a memorable deed for her Creator. She treasured the Lord. She was more in love with God than she was with His mission to the poor. She believed that Jesus would die for the sins of the world, and for hers. She believed He would resurrect from the dead. That is why she sacrificed for Him. She loved the Lord her God with all her heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Jesus told the men that day, “Truly I tell you, wherever the Gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
That is why God’s anointing flowed that night in a humble meeting room in China. I had shared the Gospel. I had told the story of the woman who did a beautiful thing for Jesus. That night, the words of Jesus, spoken nearly two thousand years prior to the event, were fulfilled. “Truly I tell you, wherever the Gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” [4]
Many aim to be influencers. How many followers do they recruit? But what’s their endgame? Are they leading people to love God? To love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength is the first and great commandment! Love God! Iti is simple! God is love. He wants to be loved.
I am glad the Gospel is being preached to all people and so is the story of the woman who worshipped and adored Jesus Christ.
[1] Mark 14:3
[2] Mark 14:4-5
[3] Mark 14:6-9
[4] Mark 14:9
“God has, in fact, written two books, not just one. Of course, we are all familiar with the first book He wrote, namely Scripture. But He has written a second book called creation.” ― Francis Bacon
1. The Bible: “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them, your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” [1]
2. Creation: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.” [2]
The Triune God unlocks the meaning of the Bible and creation. Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God. The glorious Father gives us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that we may know Him better. He enlightens the eyes of our hearts in order that we may know the hope to which He has called us. [3]
Thank You Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for revealing Yourself to us via the Bible and creation!
[1] Psalm 19:7-11
[2] Psalm 19:1-6
[3] See Hebrews 12:2; 1 Corinthians 1:24; Ephesians 1:17-19
How often did Lucy and Gilligan tell lies and do cover-ups? The sound effects of people laughing at their foolishness can still be heard via reruns of their shows. But are the lies and cover ups of “I Love Lucy” and “Gilligan’s Island” harmless?
The last place you would expect to find lies flourishing is in God’s house. Yet, Jesus told the people who claimed to belong to God a very pointed truth: “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” [1]
Telling lies is no laughing matter to Jesus Christ. Lying is of the devil. Lying relates to murder. Lies destroy trust and undermine vital relationships.
Jesus told Pontius Pilate that He came into our world to tell the truth. He said that everyone on the side of truth listens to Him. On a previous occasion, Jesus told His listeners, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then, you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” [2]
The Lord gave Zechariah a vision of giant scroll flying through the sky. The scroll contained a curse for liars and thieves. The curse entered and destroyed their homes. [3] This is good news for lovers of the truth, but bad news for liars.
A righteous man prayed that God would hear his cry. Blood-thirsty liars caused him much grief. They considered deception a sport. They enjoyed hurting him. They hurt him because he was committed to doing what was right. He tried to show them friendship by giving them trust, but they betrayed his trust and laughed at his despair. Finally, he prayed that they would fall by their own intrigues. He asked the Lord to let all who take refuge in God to be glad and sing for joy. He asked the Lord to protect and to give joy to those who love God’s name. He asked the Lord to bless the righteous and surround them with His favor like a shield. [4]
A thief once asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus came into His kingdom. Jesus told him, “Today, you will be with Me in paradise.” [5] Jesus granted His request. We need Jesus to save us just as He saved that thief. Jesus died on the cross for liars and thieves. When we believe in Christ and ask Him to forgive us, He does, and He gives to us by His Spirit a new heart that enjoys living according to His ways of righteousness, peace, and joy.
[1] John 18:36; John 8:44
[2] John 8:31-32
[3] Zechariah 5:1-4
[4] Psalm 5
[5] Luke 23:42-43
