The Alabaster Jar

Have you ever given something away that was precious to you? Mark 14:3 tells of a woman coming to Jesus and breaking an alabaster jar of precious ointment and pouring it on Him. This was her gift to the Lord, and He received her worship. This jar was filled with spikenard, very fragrant oil that cost about a year’s wages. It was probably part of her dowry, but she was willing to give all as an offering to Him. Ministering to Jesus that day was more important to her than the prospect of marriage some day. It could not be used with a dab here or a dab there, it was all or nothing as the jar had to be broken to release its contents. This speaks of the full commitment required on our part to enter the Kingdom of God . Jesus said, “Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Mt. 10:38).

This account is also an example of expressing great love. But this woman was not the first to show great love. You see, God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him will not perish but have everlasting life (Jn.3:16). In a sense, Father God broke His alabaster jar first when He gave His most precious gift (Jesus) to the world as an offering for my sins and the whole world’s sins. A dab here or there would not do as it required an “all out” sacrifice of Jesus’ life for my redemption. Jesus’ body was broken for me so I could be made whole. When the woman’s alabaster jar was broken, everyone in the room knew it, and Jesus received this gift. Will you receive the gift Almighty God has given to you through Jesus? Receive His love and forgiveness and you will know the beautiful fragrance of God’s love manifest in Jesus Christ.

You Are What You Eat

Have you ever heard the saying, “you are what you eat”? It is true that our diet greatly affects our physical health, and the same thing is true spiritually. What have you been eating spiritually? Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Again Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” Jesus and His word are the spiritual food that every believer needs to survive and to grow spiritually. 1 Peter 2:2 declares, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby.” We need a consistent diet of the bread of life and the milk of God’s word to grow and be strong spiritually. We need to be partaking of the word of God not just on Sunday or Wednesday, but every day.

Someone might say, “With my busy schedule, I don’t have time to study the bible every day.” I try to encourage people to start with five minutes each day, something that will work in their schedule. Most people who get started in a regular routine of studying God’s word find it very rewarding. The Christian bookstores have a huge supply of good devotionals that help the reader get into the good habit of daily bible reading. There are also many good devotionals available online. If you are looking for a bible reading plan, but don’t know where to start, the Gospel of John in the New Testament is a great place to start. It is simply written, yet profound, as this book reveals Jesus Christ as the Savior of the World, and the King of the Ages.

The important thing is to get started, and start putting the good spiritual food of God’s word in your heart and mind every day. Then be sure to also apply the word or be a doer of the word that you hear, and you will grow, grow, grow.

Freedom Isn't Free

Monday is Memorial Day, and we at Victory Church wish to thank all who are currently serving, or who have served in our Armed Forces. We also thank all who have given the ultimate sacrifice of their lives in protecting this country. Our hearts go out to family members whose loved ones paid the ultimate sacrifice. The freedoms we enjoy today are available because someone purchased that freedom with their very lives.

            You have heard the saying “freedom isn’t free.” That statement is true regarding the United States of America and in the spiritual realm. Ephesians 2 tells us that when we were sinners, we were without God, and without hope. Verse 13 tells us “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off, have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Galatians 5:1 says “It was for freedom, that Christ has set us free.”  Another version says we are to “Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.”

            Jesus purchased for us liberty and freedom from sin and its effects. He paid the ultimate price for my freedom, but His sacrifice is of no benefit to me unless I receive the life He offers. John 1:12 says “to as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God.” We must receive Jesus, not as just a good man who lived two thousand years ago, but as He truly is, the Messiah, the Son of God. Romans 10:9 says “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

            If you have never invited Jesus into your heart to forgive you of all of your sins, why not do it today? And if you have received this freedom of forgiveness that Jesus offers, why not take a minute right now and give thanks to Him for His sacrifice. Make Memorial Day a day of giving thanks for all who have sacrificed for our liberty.

Serving others

The text for today’s message is found in Galatians 5:13b, “through love, serve one another.” It is a calling of every believer in Jesus Christ to serve others. In Matthew 20:28 Jesus says, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Jesus is our example. Even though He was and is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, He chose to serve and to give His life for me. Serving others is not what the natural man wants to do. The natural man or fleshly man wants others to serve him. So, how do we serve others? Romans 5:5 says, “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”  For the person who has surrendered their heart to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, God’s love has been poured out into our hearts. His love is there, it simply needs to be shown to others.
And there is joy in serving. There is joy in giving of ourselves to benefit someone else. Hebrews 12:2 tells us to “consider Jesus, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross.” The cross was one of the most brutal forms of punishment and execution ever devised by man, but the Bible says for Jesus, in the midst of the pain, there was joy. How can this be? Because of love. Going to the cross was a joy for Jesus because He knew the end result of that act of obedience would be the offer of total forgiveness for anyone who would call on His name to be saved. Have you ever called on Jesus to forgive you of all of your sins? His grace and love is available to you today, if you will ask Him. And once you do call on Jesus, commit to doing His will. Through love, serve one another.