by David Brenneman
"Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table. But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, “Why this waste? For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.” Matthew 26:6-13.
In countless millions of ways people try to immortalize others in death. Some to try to get people to remember the great things they've done and still others that people don't want others to forget how heinous a person they were.
I read this passage this morning and something struck me differently than in times past that I have read it.
Every single person there was given more than a rebuke about what was happening and why. Smells, according to many doctors, are the most powerful of memory triggers.
I remember several M*A*S*H episodes with Dr. Sidney Freedman where he explains such things in detail.
Going forward every time the 11 Disciples smelled something like that alabaster, they would undoubtedly remember what it stood for. They would remember the words of their Master.
You too have the potential of impacting others in your life. If we indeed love God with our everything and love others, there's no doubt about it. Small deeds, those big events and everything in-between.
We are not to seek the glory that results in this life, but to give such back to Jesus. It's because He lives in us that any such good is capable of coming out of us. We are by nature children of wrath. By nature we're the most selfish people.
We are easily convinced to put self first in life rather than to think of others first.
It's what a sin nature does. We read that list in 2 Timothy 3: "But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these." 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
How would you like people to think about you and how you lived life?
Would they read about your deeds and glorify your Father who is in Heaven?
Smells, sounds, the senses in general tie themselves to our memories. It's just how it is that God designed us that way.
We smell a cologne and remember parents and grandparents. We smell food and we go back in time for a moment.
How do you want to be remembered? There's a line from a television show where the guy tells his son "Remember me son, not for who I was, but who I tried to be."
The goal of the Spirit is the work of God in each of us...our sanctification...our becoming more like Christ. Would people describe you in ways that are showing that was true of your life?
It's not too late if it hasn't been. A life lived in Christ is not what the world wants...nor will it understand...so don't expect it from those who aren't in Christ.
In Christ what we do in Christ's name is a fragrant aroma. To the world its actually a fowl stench. It's a fragrant aroma to Jesus and Our Father in Heaven.
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:14 "But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised."
Live life with the purpose of living for Jesus. Let your words be few and let the light of Jesus Christ shine His light in our dark world.
In 1917 Thomas Chisholm wrote "Living for Jesus".
Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.
Refrain:
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.
2. Living for Jesus Who died in my place,
Bearing on Calv’ry my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading and give Him my all.
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.
3. Living for Jesus, wherever I am,
Doing each duty in His holy Name;
Willing to suffer affliction and loss,
Deeming each trial a part of my cross.
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.
4. Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.
How will you be remembered? You will be a reminder to someone...make it a good one.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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