February 13-My Best

Exodus 29-30

Psalm 22:1-5

Proverbs 5:3-6

Matthew 26:1-25

My Best

“Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; consider it holy to the Lord.” Exodus 30:37

“A woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He was reclining at the table.” Matthew 26:7

Two of the passages we read today deal with spices, incense and perfume. God gave Moses instructions on how to mix the spices into an incense to be used in sacrificing to the Lord. This particular formula was to be set apart as holy to the Lord and they were not to use it for their own purposes. They were to set aside the best of what they had for God. Likewise, in the Matthew passage we find Mary Magdalene pouring a very expensive jar of perfume over Jesus’ head. The disciples criticized her for wasting the perfume, but Jesus knows that she has sacrificed the best of what she had for Him. He tells the disciples that she has prepared Him for burial. They did not understand that in just a few short hours He would be betrayed by one of His own and would give His life as a sacrifice for them. Scripture repeatedly instructs us to give God the first and the best of what we have. So often we give Him what is left after we have used what we wanted. This applies not only to our financial and physical resources, but also to our time, abilities, energy, etc. Everything I am and have I owe to Him. How can I give Him less than my best in gratitude for what He has done for me?