Wasted
When was the last time you were wasted?
For me - it was today at lunch.
I don’t mean that I partook of a ‘liquid lunch’ - I mean that I got wasted. Let me explain …
I have been reading ‘The Normal Christian Life’ by Watchman Nee and today was the day that I read the final chapter. The title of that chapter is ‘The Goal of The Gospel’ and the author illustrates that goal using the picture of Mary breaking the alabaster cruse and anointing Jesus with 300 pence worth of Spikenard.
The reason that I use the word ‘wasted’ is because that is how Mary’s action was described by Judas (who betrayed Christ and represents ‘the world’ in this illustration) and by Jesus’ disciples (who represent other ‘christians’). But, Nee goes on to explain that this one action of ‘waste’ will be remembered wherever the gospel is spread. A mighty big prophecy!! See, Mary did something that no other person ever did - she anointed Jesus’ Body. Remember why they went to His tomb after the crucifixion? They went to anoint His body - but, they were not able to do so for He was already risen.
See, what the illustration alludes to is how we, as believers, need to be wasted for His sake. We need to willingly pour ourselves out unto Him. That does not mean that we need to go to work for Him or try to do things for Him, but, it means that our deepest affections, desires, thoughts, our very heart needs to be entirely yielded to Him … we need to be ‘wasted’. If not now, like the others that missed their chance, we will miss ours …
As those that love Jesus with all that we are we must realize that Jesus is only satisfied when we pour out our very self to Him, all that we are, holding back nothing. And if that is all that He allows or instructs us to do, then that is enough. Do you get that? That is enough! When Christ died what were His famous words? It is finished! The law has been rendered powerless over the life of a resurrected believer because his hope and stay remain in Christ!
Friend - if you, like me, have had times in your life when you worshiped the gift rather than the giver or you adored your work for The Lord over The Lord Himself, then I challenge you to pray that He will guide you to be ‘wasted’. Just like Mary’s beautiful and precious anointing - you, too, can be a sweet fragrance as you pour out your life at His feet.