In John 12 Mary takes a pint of nard, an expensive perfume, and pours it over Jesus’ feet.  Even though the other believers there criticize her “wastefulness” and suggest that such a thing of value could have fed the poor for a year, Jesus sees her heart and her sincere sacrificial desire to honor him.  I have to confess that this example of honor challenges me.  I fear that that my practical side wins out over grand gestures more often than not.  I think one of the key things that speak to me in this is the sacrifice in it.  Honor, obedience, requires sacrifice.  When I offer up a thing, time, money, obedience, that does not require me to make a sacrifice, it is so much less than offering that stretches me to my limits and costs me great sacrifice.  This week Pastor Joe referred to a verse in John 12 for the second time in the last few weeks; both times I heard it, I know God was challenging me to not just face sacrifice and letting go, but to embrace it.  To see that as I follow through in and give all my life to him, all my hopes, all my desires, the whole list, He is released to work in me, use me, and ultimately transform me into something more useful to Him. John 12:23-26: “23Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”
Anna Estrada