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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion March 31, 2007 The Reason for the Season |
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Frontline Devotion for Saturday, March 31, 2007 by Brenda Kessler
(Today’s Frontline Lenten devotion is similar to my devotion of 2-20-05)
The scripture for today is one that has always fascinated me. When Jesus was in the home of Simon in Bethany a woman came to him and poured very expensive perfume on his head while he was seated at the table. Some of the people present became furious and said, “That’s criminal! A sheer waste! This perfume could have been sold for well over a year’s wages and handed out to the poor.” Jesus replies that they will always have the poor among them but they will not always have Him. “She did what she could when she could - she pre-anointed my body for burial.” Shortly thereafter Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the high priests to betray Jesus.
It’s easy to identify with those people who were critical of this woman pouring expensive perfume on Jesus, especially during the season of Lent when we think of ways to sacrifice. “Do I really need to eat out in this really nice restaurant when many in the world don’t have enough food?” “Do I really need this new outfit for this occasion?” “Do we really need a pipe organ for the sanctuary when we could be giving that money to the poor?” some asked years ago when our congregation considered purchasing the organ.
Jesus does not negate the desires to help the poor. In these verses Jesus simply reminds us to put aside our distractions and make Him our first priority. Jesus is the reason for the season!
Prayer: Thank you, God, for the sacrifice of your Son. Help us always to put Him first in our lives. We pray in His name. Amen
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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