DAY 29 - DEEPEST WORSHIP COMES FROM A BROKEN SPIRIT AND CONTRITE HEART

Scripture Reading: Ps 51:17, Mark 14:1-9

Ps 51:17
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart--
These, O God, You will not despise.

Mark 14:1-9
14:1 After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death. 2 But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people."
3 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. 4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, "Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they criticized her sharply. 6 But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. 8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her."


Discussion

The New Testament rarely teaches on worship. This is because the patterns of worship have long been established in the Old Testament, much of it were given to King David. But the scripture above in Mark 14 contains one of the most beautiful picture of what worship is all about. Deepest worship comes from a broken spirit and a contrite heart.

Before Mary broke the alabaster flask, there was no fragrance in the room. The fragrance came only after she broke the flask (verse 3). Often our deepest worship comes when we approach God with a broken heart, when we are at the end of ourselves. The best songs of our lives are always written in these settings.

It costs Mary almost a year's wages to bring her worship to God. Sometimes worshipping God can be a costly exercise. Mary's worship drew severe criticism from some of the disciples. Don't be surprised when people criticize you when you bring God extravagant worship.


Prayer

Father, help me to worship You with a broken spirit and a contrite heart.


© Copyright. Ng Wah Lok 2002