Devo Guide - Feb. 7
John 12:1-11
John 12:1-11 NIV
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
Reflect
Bitter edges. That’s what I see when I read about Judas’ response to Mary’s sacrificial anointing of Jesus. Because of his own sinful actions, and the distance he kept from really giving himself to the Lord, his responses are judgmental. We all have those bitter edges. Places where we get prickly. They impact how we respond to God and how we respond to others actions, and like Judas it impacts how we see events in front of us too. Today, can we respond like Mary instead – offering ourselves again to the Lord? Pastor Christine
Apply
When or where are you most apt to respond with prickly edges, or a judgmental attitude? Is there anything Jesus would say to you there? How can you respond to Him and to your world differently today? What sacrifice, like Mary, can you offer to honour Him today?
Pray
• Pray for our Children’s Ministry Director, Alan Fiebich. Pray for his family and the effectiveness of his ministry. • Pray for our Technology & Adult Ministries Assistant, Junior Figueiredo, and our Worship Ministries Assistant, Alison Norris. • Pray for Alpha Canada. • Pray for the North American Baptist Missionary of the Week, Andrew Nguyen, Unity Vietnamese Baptist Church of Chicago. Please pray for Pastor Andrew and the leadership of this new church plant as they seek to impact the next community.