This Can't Wait

John 12:7 Leave her alone, Jesus replied. It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.

Have you ever bought something so special for somebody you loved that you just couldn’t wait to let them have it? I’m terrible when it comes to giving surprise gifts because I can’t wait to see the joy on the person’s face when they open it. That’s how we should be when we are opening our gifts to God. Each of us have a gift from God and for God waiting to be opened but we can’t wait until Jesus is dead before we open it up.

Some may say Jesus already died and was raised from the dead but I would say we were living in a time where society is trying to kill His witness and we need to open our gifts now to show our love to Him.

Hebrews 6: 4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5who have tasted the goodness of the Word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because[b]to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

Jesus was visiting the house of his friends, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus who was just fresh out of the grave himself from the miracle of Jesus raising him from the dead. Mary was so overwhelmed with gratitude that she broke open some perfume she had been saving for Jesus’ death and poured it out on him in the house. The scent filled the room and got everybody’s attention especially Judas. When we give it ought to leave a pleasant aroma in the house. On Sundays when the people of God give with a generous heart it ought to cause the whole house to smell good. Mary couldn’t wait until Jesus was dead she had to give him her gift while he was present.

Judas got mad because he saw how much money was being wasted. He said, “This perfume is about a year’s wage and could have been given to the poor.”

First Lady Michelle Obama was being criticized last night for taking her daughter and her friend, who just lost her father, to Spain for a mini-vacation. CNN analysts were saying it was the wrong time to travel somewhere as nice as Spain during a recession. That money could have been used for the poor in the Gulf. We are still going to be a trillion dollars in debt for years to come but Michelle needed to minister to her friend and daughter right now and by the way, they paid for the trip out of their own money. The same people who are crying about how much money she spent are the same ones trying to block health care reform and financial relief to those who are unemployed.

Judas wasn’t concerned about the poor, he was mad because he was helping himself to the money in the funds designated to the poor. He was getting money from “special interests.” Mary gave out of a sincere place and this couldn’t wait. When it comes to our own lives we all need the same kind of urgency when it comes to giving our gifts to Jesus. This can’t wait…

1. When you want to bless someone who’s been a blessing to you.

2. When the Joy of giving it now…supersedes timelines or perception. The impact of my gift now would be greater than if I waited.

3. Urgency of the need to give outweighs the timing of the sacrifice. There may be a traditional time set to give my gift but the urgency and my discernment tell me now is the time.

4. You want to give people their flowers while they are alive to smell them. Bless people who mean the most to you while they are still alive not when they are dead.

Dear God, I pour myself out to you today because I appreciate all of what you’ve done for me. Today, I’m going to bless somebody special in my life not because it’s their birthday, anniversary, Christmas, or their funeral but just because I love them and appreciate them. This can’t wait!

In Jesus Name,
Amen