Many Beautiful Things
She has done a beautiful thing to me. Mark 14:6
Just before her death, artist and missionary Lilias Trotter looked
out a window and saw a vision of a heavenly chariot. According to her
biographer, a friend asked, “Are you seeing many beautiful things?” She
answered, “Yes, many, many beautiful things.”
Trotter’s final words reflect God’s work in her life. Not only in death, but throughout her life, He revealed much beauty to her and through her. Although a talented artist, she chose to serve Jesus as a missionary in Algeria. John Ruskin, a famous painter who tutored her, is said to have commented, “What a waste,” when she chose the mission field over a career in art.
Similarly, in the New Testament, when a woman came to Simon the Leper’s house with an alabaster jar and poured perfume on Jesus’s head, those present saw it as a waste. This expensive perfume was worth a year’s common wages, so some of the people present thought it could have been used to help the poor. However, commending this woman’s deep devotion to Him, Jesus said, “She has done a beautiful thing to me” (Mark 14:6).
Every day we can choose to let Christ’s life shine in our lives and display His beauty to the world. To some, it may seem a waste, but let us have willing hearts to serve Him. May Jesus say we have done many beautiful things for Him.
Trotter’s final words reflect God’s work in her life. Not only in death, but throughout her life, He revealed much beauty to her and through her. Although a talented artist, she chose to serve Jesus as a missionary in Algeria. John Ruskin, a famous painter who tutored her, is said to have commented, “What a waste,” when she chose the mission field over a career in art.
Similarly, in the New Testament, when a woman came to Simon the Leper’s house with an alabaster jar and poured perfume on Jesus’s head, those present saw it as a waste. This expensive perfume was worth a year’s common wages, so some of the people present thought it could have been used to help the poor. However, commending this woman’s deep devotion to Him, Jesus said, “She has done a beautiful thing to me” (Mark 14:6).
Every day we can choose to let Christ’s life shine in our lives and display His beauty to the world. To some, it may seem a waste, but let us have willing hearts to serve Him. May Jesus say we have done many beautiful things for Him.
Dear Father, help me express my love to You in beautiful ways.
May our lives display the beauty of God.
This devotional reminds me of a conversation I had with a very zealous believer I met many years ago in a bible study in Hawaii. As a musician, she gave up her musical studies to go into seminary but then God spoke to her and told her that he did not ask her to give up music but rather to devote her music to him. She then returned to her instrumental studies with the aim of participating in some form of music ministry. I believe that we must use wisdom and seek the Lord for the gifts he has provided for us because they are the very core essence of how he wants us to reach others for him
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the devotion and Scott's response. In today's material world, it is easy to get caught up in the price and worth of things. Luckily, I have never been too concerned about the clothes I wear or the car I drive or the purse I carry. However, how much am I giving to God with what I do have, with what He has given to me? I need to pray every day to not waste time or talent but to do all I can in His name.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the devotion and Scott's response. In today's material world, it is easy to get caught up in the price and worth of things. Luckily, I have never been too concerned about the clothes I wear or the car I drive or the purse I carry. However, how much am I giving to God with what I do have, with what He has given to me? I need to pray every day to not waste time or talent but to do all I can in His name.
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ReplyDeleteMany Beautiful Things:
How Can we, like the woman in Mark 14, do beautiful things for Christ? On my knees humbly pouring myself out to the Lord. Holding all things of importance to me in this world in the open palm of my hand to trust in the Lord that he will give and take away as He sees fit and does with what he will. I have a hoarder/controller mentality of my sinful nature that I constantly need to be broken of to submit control and not bow to idols of this world. A constant struggle.
Mike Jones
Wow this is so beautiful and such a wonderful reminder. We are given this amazing gift to follow our Lord Jesus Christ. As teachers we have this divine opportunity where we get to freely share about Christs love with our kids as well as let Him shine through us. We need to constantly remind ourselves and remind each-other that every day is a new opportunity to let the Lord shine through so we can be Christ for someone.
ReplyDeleteOffer our bodies as a living sacrifice... That's what Paul suggests.
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