“You need to repent of your sins! The Lord Jesus Christ is returning to this earth. Are you ready?”
Every Saturday morning, this street preacher positioned himself near the entrance of the local farmer’s market. He held aloft a large placard with the words, “Jesus Christ Died For Your Sins!” The majority of shoppers at the market ignored him or shifted their path away from him. A few would give a thumbs up while others would yell, “Shut up, you’re a nuisance!” Undaunted, he continued to preach, freely giving away pamphlets and small Bibles to anyone who would stop and listen.
On more than one occasion, I stopped and listened to him. His message was sound and firmly rooted in the Bible. While I could not imagine myself doing what he did, I respected and admired his actions. This was this Christian believer’s way of serving Jesus Christ. He was worshipping his Lord and Savior.
Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”
John 12:3-8 (NKJV)
Although Jesus praised Mary’s sacrifice, even some of Jesus’ disciples criticized her devotional act. While they made a practical point, they were missing the larger picture. Mary did not concern herself with how others felt or viewed her actions. This was her way of serving Jesus Christ. She was worshipping her Lord and Savior and Jesus blessed her and recognized her sacrifice.
In this life, we may encounter many forms of worship and methods of serving Jesus Christ. As long as the worship is based upon God’s teachings in the Bible, all Christian believers should embrace one another. Simply because one’s method of serving God is not congruent with another’s should not lead to dismissing their sincerity and faith.
I praise God for this street preacher. We worship and serve God in different ways but we serve the same great God.
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
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