“Jesus was at Bethany, a guest of Simon the Leper. While he was eating dinner, a woman came up carrying a bottle of very expensive perfume. Opening the bottle, she poured it on his head. Some of the guests became furious among themselves. “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.” They swelled up in anger, nearly bursting with indignation over her. But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why are you giving her a hard time? She has just done something wonderfully significant for me. You will have the poor with you every day for the rest of your lives. Whenever you feel like it, you can do something for them. Not so with me. She did what she could when she could—she pre-anointed my body for burial. And you can be sure that wherever in the whole world the Message is preached, what she just did is going to be talked about admiringly.” (Mark 14:3-9 The Message Bible)
You have read our opening passage. Now let me present you with some ways, inspired by those verses, that will serve as challenges to start your week. If you accept these challenges, you will be – not forgotten. This is truly a “Monday Morning Short” meditation. Here are the challenges to jump start your magnificent Monday. Followed by a wonderful week!
- Commit to doing something wonderfully significant for the Lord.
- Give something that you value to the Lord: your talent, your treasure, or your time. Do what others will initially think you are wasting what you give to the Lord.
- Do what you can, while you can, for the Lord.
- Let your admired actions be talked about! Let your action be not forgotten!
Keep these four challenges in mind today and as you go through this week. Perhaps add a fifth challenge, one contained in our closing verse. Remember, because of what you do, you will be – not forgotten. Be blessed!
“After all this, there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that we were created for.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13 Good News Translation)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King