A big title to get your head around, but something the Lord laid on my heart yesterday when He brought up the image of the woman who poured out expensive perfume on Jesus as her act of worship. The perfume that the woman poured out on Jesus symbolised the heart with which she gave of herself to the Lord, because it is the heart and life that is most precious to the Lord- Rom 12v1: 'Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship'. Once the life and heart are fully for Him (the substance being LOVE), then all those things that come from such a thing, according to truth, will be equally pleasing to Him by the gift of His grace. Just as Christ laid down His life for us, so in imitating Him, when we lay down our lives that also, because of the grace He provides, is a sweet smelling offering Eph 5 v1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. The fragrance spoken of is the love for God, and just like the woman, we too can offer up our love for Him.
This continuing love for Him is usually always in humble and hidden places. What is meant by this is that the place of such worship is usually found in the normal everyday places of life. Not that the place made the worship holy or acceptable, but just like Jesus said that people would no longer worship only in certain places, but true worship was something that would always be of spirit and truth, no matter the surroundings, and so the woman simply did what was normal for her life; she worshiped with an intense love.
The remarkable thing about this worship was what the woman was willing to pour out in this normal and average place. To our knowledge there were no great miracles taking place at that time or hour in order to encourage great worship, in fact, it was actually a time of great danger for the disciples of God, so the woman was actually risking quite a lot, maybe even her life if the Pharisees found out what she was doing at that time (see Matthew 26 and the plot against Jesus, including Judas' scheming in v14).
So not only did the woman do it at the risk of herself and possibly losing her own life, but she did it in preparation for the death that Jesus would experience (Matt 26v12). True worship is a sacrifice, and a denying of self; that is why self must be broken at the time of worship (just like the perfume box was, seen in Mark 14v3), in order to allow the newness of the life of the spirit to burst forth in our lives. It is true that positionally, everyone Christian has already died and come forth into newness of life with Christ yes, but we must practice the practical reality of this our lives as well. Paul said in one of his books that 'I die daily.' He also said that, 'For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.' (2 Cor 4v11). This is the confusing thing for the natural man to understand, after all, how does Jesus' make life come from death? and even in the midst of death and a daily dying? (not just to self, but those things to do with death in the world; sorrow, toiling, the death that results from the sins of those in the world). But nevertheless it is true, and it is a spiritual principle that God established. It is so encouraging for us to think that even in the midst of trials, sorrow and daily death to self and circumstances of death in the world, that we can still break open an alabaster box of worship given to us by the Spirit, in order to give a worship full of passion and love.
Despite dangerous and simple, humble circumstances and surroundings, it is possible to be COMPLETELY CONSUMED with moments of extravagant worship towards our Lord. We aren't given any indication in Matthew that the woman took any notice of ANYONE except for Jesus in this moment of worship, even though His disciples were present and complaining about her worship (Matt 6v6-8), and even though a plot was in the making around her (Matt 6v14). Jesus loves, allows and even invites such a worship, because it is a worship that doesn't focus on man, but a worship that is WHOLLY taken up with it's love.
This is a worship that happily didn't bring itself into the picture, or laud itself in any way. We know this because to this day we still don't know the woman's name! Amazing stuff! Although Jesus said her act would be repeated and told about wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, she herself will never directly receive fame for it! And she liked it that way! If anything, true worship seeks to HIDE ITSELF and it's IDENTITY, lest any glory or honour or worship be taken away from the only one who deserves it. The quality of the worship corresponds directly to WHO IS BEING WORSHIPPED and the intent of the worshipper in directing their worship to only Jesus and the Father . That is why we must always strive to decrease, in order that in any way possible His worship and it's quality may increase (this is the adornment He desires and loves! The true spiritual temple is our hearts! - 1 Cor 3v16).
Lastly, such a worship will bring a great testimony to the Lord; and though, usually, such worship will be surrounded by humble, simple and everyday circumstances, the Lord will ensure that it does a great amount of good, and though no eye sees it, the Lord will see and know about it, and ensure that it is put to good use for His glory.
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