Women called to Worship

In reading the book of Matthew I have found myself both challenged and intrigued as a woman of God. God has shown me great and mighty things through His word. Jesus was constantly challenging the Pharisees, the religious rulers, and the disciples. He went against everything that they had come to believe. He was not trying to destroy the Law but rather to give clear incite into what God truly meant by His rule book. Through parables, stories, and being in His presence people were often offended and put in a position to change their way of thinking or become angry, un-accepting, and indignant. Often this is what happens today. When God challenges our opinion of the truth we have a decision to make to either accept what God is saying or become angry, un-accepting, and indignant.

In Matthew 26:6-13 we see the story of the woman who poured out the costly perfume on Jesus. In this story the disciples become indignant. They tell Jesus that she has waisted so much in her actions because she could have sold the perfume for money to help the poor. Jesus rebukes them and tells them that the poor will always be with us and what she did will be told in the Gospel. He also says that she will be remembered for it.

As I thought of this woman and her actions I thought of her being remembered. She was remembered for her sacrificial worship of Jesus. She might not had been remembered had she sold the perfume and gave the money too the poor. There are not many storied about people selling all they have to give to the poor, but there are many stories of people laying down their lives to follow God. There are three thing about this woman and her story that challenge me as a woman of God. She gave a sacrificial offering of worship, she did her actions in private, and she was rewarded openly.

What an awesome sacrifice this woman made to God. She sacrificed her reputation. She went into a place that she wasn't supposed to be the home of a leper. Lepers were unclean and unapproachable. She chose to go against the law to get to her Savior. She was willing to suffer the reproach of the world for one moment in His presence. And what did she did in His presence was worship. She brought an offering not of money, but of praise, thanksgiving, and adoration. She took the thing that was of most value to her and poured it out on her Savior.

She did this action not in the temple courts or in the market place where everyone could see, but she did it in an intimate setting. Because Simon was a leper I imagine that the only people there were Jesus, Simon, and the disciples. There might have been a few others lepers there, but I don't think all the religious people came to this dinner party. I imagine that the throngs were even repulsed at the idea of going to a leper's house. It was in this private setting that she chose to pour out her offering. There were no people there to see and speak of what she had done except Jesus, Simon, and the disciples. This shows just how much she loved Jesus and not the approval of others. She didn't know that her private act of worship would become part of the Gospel.

The disciples still had enough religion in them to criticize this women for her actions, but Jesus was quick to reprimand them. He saw it as a act of preparation for His burial. How awesome was this act. Through the leading of Holy Spirit this woman did something that would appear as foolishness to others. She prepared Jesus for death before it happened. All she knew was she had to do it. She chose to operate in faith rather than flesh, and what she did in private was rewarded by God in open. She is mentioned in the Gospel and is for every known for her action of worship. Her act has been read by millions. When God chooses to reward you it is no small thing.

As women of God what are we willing to sacrifice to God? Are we willing to go up against our pride to worship Him? Are we willing to do our acts of worship in a place not to be seen by other but to be seen by God? In this day we seem not to be coming against the law, but rather to be coming against our own pride walls that religion has built. We feel that if we go to the altar or place of prayer when the call is given others will think badly of us. We feel that the place of prayer is for sinners only. We feel that we can go there for healing and deliverance on occasion if someone else goes first because people might think if we go first we have sin in our life. All of it is pride and until pride is broken in your life you can't approach Jesus as this woman did. She was humble as we should be. She got to the place where it didn't matter who saw or didn't see. She was going to be with her Savior, and she was going to give Him all that was of worth to her. She is an example of a true worshipper. I challenge all who read this to break down their pride walls and become humble before Him. Through true humility you will become a true worshiper and God will reward you openly for the things you do in secret.

A New Beginning for Women's Ministries

In September of 2009 I stepped down as Women's ministries director and Janet Baker assumed the roll. God has truly blessed us with Janet. She is an awesome woman of God with a heart for women. She has really stepped up to the challenge and is excelling in her ministry skills. God is breathing new life in the women's ministries through her involvement. I look forward to all she will accomplish this year and the years to come.
Expect great things in 2010. God is taking us to a new level with our new leader!