DO WHAT YOU CAN
She did what she could.
Mark 14:8
She’s said it dozens of times over the years: I don’t have any gifts. I’m not good at anything. And each time this subject pops up in our conversation, I counter the lies with His truth:God has given you gifts! We have different gifts, according to the grace given us (Romans 12:6).
Use whatever gifts He’s given you! Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms (1 Peter 4:10).
No matter what your gifts, gratefully do your best. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:23).
Lazarus and Martha’s sister Mary (John 12:1-7) was described in Luke as a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town (Luke 7:37). With that kind of reputation, she could’ve duped herself into thinking she was useless to the Kingdom, too. Instead she took the gifts that she had – a passionate love for Jesus and an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume – and anointed her Lord. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head (Mark 14:3).
Using our gifts to passionately pursue God and zealously serve others will not always be received well by those around us. There’s a risk when we serve in out of the ordinary ways, and being His disciple comes with a cost (Luke 14:26-27).
That was Mary’s experience. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly (Mark 14:4-5).
Jesus saw her heart and came to her defense. “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. She did what she could” (Mark 14:6, 8a). Mary’s wholehearted devotion and service to Jesus is her legacy. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her” (Mark 14:9).
If you look around at other people’s gifts, you’re sure to find a gift that’s not part of the way God wired and designed you. That’s OK. He’s not asking you to serve Him with gifts He hasn’t given you! Instead, follow Mary’s example: She did what she could (Mark 14:8).
PASSION Step: What will you do to passionately pursue God and zealously serve Him today? Do what you can (Mark 14:8).
You are not a reservoir with a limited amount of resources; you are a channel attached to unlimited divine resources.
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