Today, let’s focus more on how to use the power rather than focusing on the difficulty of obtaining it. Read today’s poem for thoughts and ideas about how to harness this unlimited power which is available.
Like attention was given
To the Tent of Meeting,
Attend to what is important
With reason for proceeding.
With tremendous detail
And great teamwork
With each person
Remaining alert.
Focused on how to
Use His power
Rather than on the
Difficulty of this hour.
So more see the amazing
And never waiver
Because of the way
Provided by the Savior.
Following the plan
With purpose in every step
To get our journey's end
By receiving help.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. – Matthew 6:33
The post “Top Priority” highlighted the woman who poured expensive perfume on the head of Jesus. The woman was giving as a servant and showing her gratitude to Jesus for what He was going to accomplish. In the same way, our top priority should be to strive to give God our best … the best part of our day!
Give God the best part of your day today with study and prayer. Worship in song today with Come to the Table by Sidewalk Prophets. Our top priority is to accept Christ and grow in God’s way by studying the word. Come to the table today beside the Savior and receive food for the soul.
Leading up to today’s passage in Mark 14:1-9, the priests and scribes continued their scheme to arrest Jesus but they didn’t see the present as a good time since it was Passover. Millions of people who liked Jesus were gathering in Jerusalem for the feast and if they tried to arrest Jesus during this time, the people might riot against them.
It was two days before the feast and Jesus was staying at the home of Simon. A woman broke a jar of very expensive perfume and poured it on the head of Jesus. Some rebuked her because they thought it was a waste of money because the perfume could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money could have gone to the poor.
Jesus defends the woman and explains that her extravagance was justified just like the poor woman who gave all she had to the temple treasury recorded in Mark 12. She had her priorities right and believed that Jesus was the Messiah. She showed leadership by pointing out who Jesus was and that He would die on the cross.
The perfume was expensive but Jesus pointed out that the perfume was preparing His body for burial. The woman was giving as a servant and showing her gratitude to Jesus for what He was going to accomplish. In the same way, our top priority should be to strive to give God our best … the best part of our day!
To take in the instructions from His Word and set out to apply this Word in all we do so that future generations will be inspired by our actions. Our time may be valuable and what we give may be extravagant but this is a part of our worship as we show our gratitude for what God has blessed us with.
This day with You Lord, we worry about our jobs, our decisions, and many other things in life but all that really matters is doing our best for Your glory. Let us take today’s example of the woman who poured perfume on Jesus’ head to guide us toward our top priority and may this inspire our plans to give our best. We plan out our day and move forward now trusting that every step we take will be fulfilling the purpose You have for our life. Amen.
Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. – Revelation 22:12
In the post “Victorious Finish”, thoughts were given as to the reasons for the forewarnings of Jesus. One take away is to be persistent even when it is hard to be optimistic. Knowledge of what God promises gives endurance through our difficulty and we can take on the challenges with joyful awareness of God’s ability to bring a victorious finish.
This day with God, let us not pay attention to the world where disorder expands to fill the void of human failure. Instead, let us pay attention to God so there is order that fills the void with greatness. Give praise today with the song Here is Our King by David Crowder Band.
Jesus came as King of a spiritual kingdom and not an earthly kingdom. This was unexpected because the people were expecting a military ruler or king of the world. But when we accept Jesus, we get the big picture and see that a King of the spiritual realm is of greatest importance.
In Mark 13:1-36, Jesus forewarns that there will be wars, earthquakes, and famines. There will be distress, betrayal, and dissention within families but then there will be a time when the Son of man begins to reign so keep on guard.
Use this forewarning to prepare for the future with endurance because we will not be surprised but ready. The Holy Spirit will direct our response with action so we will make it through and receive the reward.
If we pay attention to the reward rather than hard times, we can endure the difficulty because our mind will constantly be at work finding a solution and our hearts will act on these solutions until there is accomplishment.
So be persistent even when it is hard to be optimistic. Knowledge of what God promises gives hope and we can go through each day’s activities with joyful awareness of God’s ability to bring a victorious finish.
Lord, we put our total focus on You today because with You there is power to overcome the difficulties we face. Today, we may face distractions but we can remain optimistic because You promise a reward if we maintain our attention on You . We may have difficulty but with You there is a solution to our struggles and we have endurance to finish victoriously. Amen.
