Love- Part II

Pastor Ryan Binkley 

5 minute read

It is often difficult for us as believers to truly understand the value the Lord puts on our worship. It is counter-cultural to see worship as something dearer than works. However, ours is not the only generation that has had this perception problem. This has gone back to the days of Jesus Himself as we see in the story of Mary and Martha:

 

“As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.’ But the Lord said to her, ‘My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.’”

Luke 10:38-42 NLT

 

Now what Martha was doing – caring for and providing for her guests – was good. Yet Jesus clearly states that the most important thing is standing in His presence. Worship will always supersede works. I want to help you understand the incredible act of worship that God asks us to do.

 

Even more than the story of Mary and Martha, there is a story found in all four of the Gospels which clearly depicts holy worship. (It is worth noting that there is some debate as to whether all four stories relay the same incident or rather accounts of similar events.)

 

Luke shares his account of the story like this:

 

“Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, ‘This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.’ And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ So he said, ‘Teacher, say it.’ ‘There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?’ Simon answered and said, ‘I suppose the one whom he forgave more.’ And He said to him, ‘You have rightly judged.’ Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.’ Then He said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’”

Luke 7:36-48 NKJV

 

What can we take from this story to help better our own worship?

 

  1. True Worship is Discovered

 

Jesus was not out in the open. This was a private audience Jesus had, yet this woman had the audacity to enter the house of a “holy man” to find her Savior. Her lavish actions required a search for one who is worthy. Part of discovery in worship is about relationship. We love Jesus because He first loved us. As we draw closer to Him, lured by the lavishness of His love, we will see both how worthy He is of all worship and praise as well as how best to worship Him in each season.

 

  1. True Worship is Costly

 

In Matthew’s account, Jesus’ disciples were indignant because of the incredible value of the perfume. After rebutting their (misguided) attempt to redirect the money toward the poor, Jesus explains that He will not be present forever. There is a time and a place for extravagance. It is worth noting, however, that extravagance doesn’t have to translate to the financial. Like the widow’s two mites, the value of a gift of worship isn’t a matter of the amount, but of the heart.

 

  1. True Worship is Offensive

 

Yet another rebuttal Jesus had to make was to none other than Judas Iscariot, the betrayer himself. As the disciple who carried the money bags, Judas would secretly help himself to anything he saw fit. Confronted by the woman’s costly sacrifice, Judas was offended. Yes, because it deprived him of further selfish gains, but also because of his conviction at witnessing this act of extreme worship. Sometimes others get will get offended by your act of faith due to their own lack of faith. On Sunday, Ellie shared how her extravagant prayer time would often offend her family, because it challenged their own faith. When you worship with abandon it will cause a stir in you and in others.

 

  1. True Worship is Remembered 

 

Matthew closes his version with one of my favorite moments in Scripture:

 

“I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”

Matthew 26:13 NLT

 

How many of us desire to leave behind a legacy? This woman achieved more glory than the richest king could dream. Because while the kingdoms of this world rise and fall, and power fades into history, this woman and her bottle of perfume will still be a story told to the next generation. Worship unlocks generational blessings!

 

I pray for the worship of the people of Create to be extravagant this week!