Scripture: Exodus 30:34-38; Amos 5:21
How do we show our love to God? Our Lord says in John 14:21, "He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me." We show our love to God when we keep His commandments. We do not show our love to God if we only keep the commandments we want to keep or if we add some of our own commandments. In Matthew 28:18, before Christ ascended into heaven, He was giving His apostles some last minute instructions concerning those they would baptize. Jesus said, "Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you." Everything the Lord has commanded us is to be observed. We are to do all that God says and in the way He says to do it. Jesus says in Luke 6:46, "But why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"
In worship we must do all God has commanded and we must not do anything He has not authorized. Our worship must be from the heart with all reverence and sincerity. We must give Him our very best. Then and only then will we be worshipping God "in spirit and in truth". The purpose and holiness of true worship to God is a precious privilege available only to those who are obedient to the will of God.
How good do you think your attitude of worship smells to God. I don’t have any way of knowing what you have been thinking about but God certainly does. We must realize that what is minor to us is major to God. Anything done during our worship has a scent whether good or bad. What kind of scent are you sending right now into the nostrils of God. Is it a sweet smelling savour or the stench of death?
Genuine worship is costly. In John 11 Mary had seen her brother’s funeral reversed. In reflection I’m sure she wondered who was this man who could command the dead to return to life? Only God could do such a thing. When she thought about who had done this thing for her she was moved to a place that can only be described as a place of worship. Mary, however had seen something worth her gift. According to John her gift was worth a year’s salary. Imagine the fragrance of perfume so rich that a container of it would cost a year’s salary. People would never forget the day Mary came to Jesus in pure, fragrant worship. The word John uses means “saturated.” The way a wet sponge can’t hold anymore water, the room couldn’t take on anymore smell. Mary sent a sweet smell of worship unto her Lord.
Unfortunately in a room so filled with sweet perfume also came the smell of something rotten. Not everyone was choosing to worship. Does God smell something rotten today during your worship? Judas was in this room furious that Mary gave her all to Jesus. To him it was a waste of money. For Judas didn’t realize to all Jesus he even owed. He stands in stark contrast to Mary. Worship says, “Your way God not mine.” Judas says, “I’ll do it my way no matter what.” Worship says no matter what it cost I give my all to God.” Judas says, “I want that money.” Worship says, “It doesn’t matter who sees me. I’ll be a crazy for Christ.” Judas says, “You fool, you wasted it.” In Amos 5:21 the people of Isreal copied the crimes of their forefathers. They forgot all about the law of worshiping the Lord God, and Him only must we serve. The worship they offered unto God was as rotten as the stench of death because it was not done in spirit and in truth.
Genuine worship is risky. Mary looked a little different during and after this event. While others reclined around the table, she was on the floor, at the feet of Jesus. She wept, as she poured out her perfume, she used her hair like a mop. When she finished she didn’t look all prim and proper. She looked like someone who had decided that it really didn’t matter how she looked as long as she gave her all to Jesus. What does it take for a man to be free of his pride and run to the alter. What does it take for a woman to forget about her outward appearance, and worship her God. What does it take for a church to forget the clock , the agenda’s of the day, forget how church is done and get lost in worship. God desperately desires that we take risk like Mary did and worship Him. Mary didn’t care what people thought or even said about her. She ignored their criticism and touched the heart of Jesus. In Exodus 30:34-38 God gives detailed instructions to Moses about the way that they were to worship. As a visible and sweet smelling demonstration of their giving to God, the Israelites were to include in the things they gave to God in their sacrifices, this perfume that include sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense. God gave Moses specific instructions not to use this combination of ingredients for any other purpose. This was a perfume dedicated only unto God. This was a picture of the fact that as the Israelites came to worship God, and as we come to worship Him, it rises up before Him just like a sweet-smelling perfume would rise unto God.
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