Sin infects every part of our being—our thoughts, words, and actions—leaving us separated from God and unable to save ourselves. This universal brokenness is the root of all suffering, shame, and regret, and it is only through the redemptive work of Christ on the cross that we can be made righteous before God. No amount of good behavior, morality, or religious activity can bridge the gap; only faith in Jesus and His finished work can rescue us from the penalty of sin and bring us into right relationship with God. [12:52]
Romans 3:23-24 (ESV)
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Reflection: In what area of your life do you most feel the weight of sin or brokenness? How can you bring this honestly before God today, trusting in Christ’s redemption rather than your own efforts?
Mary’s act of pouring out a year’s worth of wages in costly perfume on Jesus’ feet is a picture of extravagant love and devotion, holding nothing back from the One who is worthy of it all. Her willingness to give her most valuable possession reveals a heart that treasures Christ above all else, challenging us to examine what we might be withholding from Him. True devotion is not measured by what we keep, but by what we are willing to lay at His feet, no matter the cost or how misunderstood we may be by others. [40:20]
Matthew 26:6-13 (ESV)
Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
Reflection: What is one thing in your life—time, resource, relationship, or dream—that you have been reluctant to surrender to Jesus? What would it look like to pour it out at His feet today?
It is easy to become so busy with ministry, service, and Christian activity that we neglect the most important thing: intimacy with Christ. Mary’s example shows us that sitting at Jesus’ feet, listening to Him, and loving Him is the foundation from which all true service flows. Without this, our work becomes empty and our hearts grow cold; but when we prioritize His presence, everything we do becomes an overflow of love and devotion. [50:15]
Luke 10:38-42 (ESV)
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Reflection: How can you intentionally carve out time this week to simply sit at Jesus’ feet—listening, worshiping, and being with Him—before you serve or work for Him?
When we fear the opinions or rejection of people more than we fear God, it leads to compromise in our witness, our convictions, and our devotion. The religious leaders plotted against Jesus in secret out of fear of the crowd, and Judas betrayed Christ when his expectations were disappointed. This fear of man is a bondage that silences our proclamation and tempts us to fit in, but God calls us to boldness and faithfulness, honoring Him above all else. [28:26]
Proverbs 29:25 (ESV)
The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
Reflection: Where are you tempted to compromise your faith or hide your devotion to Jesus because of what others might think? What is one step you can take today to honor God above the opinions of people?
The ultimate invitation is to love Jesus with a depth that surpasses all other loves—a love that moves us to tears, transforms our priorities, and fills our lives with longing for His presence. This kind of love is not about religious performance but about beholding Christ, desiring Him above all else, and letting every part of our lives be shaped by intimacy with Him. When we love Him like this, our worship, service, and witness become powerful and authentic, and we find ourselves longing for the day we will see Him face to face. [46:27]
Philippians 3:8-10 (ESV)
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.
Reflection: When was the last time you were moved to tears or deep emotion simply by thinking about Jesus and what He has done for you? Ask God today to give you a fresh revelation of His love that stirs your heart to deeper devotion.
In reflecting on the events of the past weeks, it is clear that God is moving in ways that far exceed our expectations. The gathering of tens of thousands for prayer and worship in Atlanta was not about filling a building, but about seeking the Lord together—inside, outside, and even in the streets. This is a reminder that God’s purposes are not limited by our plans or our venues. The true miracle is the unity and hunger for God that He is stirring in His people.
As we turn to Matthew 26, we stand at the threshold of the most significant moments in history: the cross and the resurrection. These chapters are the apex of the gospel, the culmination of God’s redemptive plan. Every human being is born into sin, separated from God, and in desperate need of rescue. The cross is the only escape from this condition, for it is there that Christ absorbed the wrath of God and exchanged His righteousness for our unrighteousness. This is not just theology—it is the foundation of our hope and the reason for our devotion.
The narrative of Mary and her alabaster box confronts us with a question: What does true devotion look like? Mary’s act was extravagant—she poured out a year’s wages in worship, holding nothing back. Her devotion was misunderstood, even criticized, but Jesus called it beautiful. She saw nothing in her life as too valuable to lay at His feet. This challenges us to examine our own hearts: Is there anything we withhold from Christ? Do we love Him more than anything else in this life? Are we content with busyness and ministry, or do we long to simply sit at His feet?
In contrast, Judas chose deceit over devotion. Disappointed and unwilling to receive correction, he sold out Christ for a handful of silver. The difference between Mary and Judas is not just in their actions, but in the posture of their hearts. One was captivated by love; the other by self-interest and unmet expectations.
The call is clear: to be a people marked by deep, sacrificial love for Christ—a love that overflows into every area of our lives. May we be found at His feet, pouring out our lives in worship, and holding nothing back.
Matthew 26:1-16 (ESV) —
> 1 When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples,
> 2 “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
> 3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,
> 4 and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.
> 5 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”
> 6 Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,
> 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table.
> 8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?
> 9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.”
> 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me.
> 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.
> 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial.
> 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
> 14 Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests
> 15 and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.
> 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.
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