A Beautiful Thing

"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me."   - Mark 14:6-8 NIV

Ministry calls—it always does.

Your in-home Bible study starts in an hour. You’ve prepared all week with careful study and prayer. Between meetings, family responsibilities, and a hospital visit to a friend, your schedule has been full.

"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me."

This passage reminds us to take time to pour out our sincere affection on Christ—not just for what He has done, but for who He is. Easier said than done. Our hectic schedules and endless to-do lists make it easy to get caught up in doing things—even good things—rather than simply being with Him.

The woman in this passage demonstrated her love for Christ by offering an extravagant gift. To others, her offering made little sense, but that’s often the case when we linger in His presence. Christ came to her defense, reminding those who criticized her that while it is important to serve and minister to others, it is equally important to quiet ourselves long enough to sit at His feet and worship Him.

In Luke 10, Jesus gently corrected Martha when she complained that her sister, Mary, wasn’t helping with preparations. He reminded Martha that Mary had chosen the better thing. Like the woman who anointed Jesus with costly perfume, Mary sat at His feet, giving Him her full attention. Both women demonstrated love by choosing to be with Him rather than just do for Him.

Others may not understand, but there are moments when, out of sheer gratitude for all Christ has done, we are compelled to remain at His feet. As I reflected on this passage, I asked myself: When was the last time I truly lingered in His presence? I’m naturally more like Martha, and it has taken years to cultivate a heart that willingly chooses stillness. I was also reminded that even good things can get in the way of doing the best things.

Before you rush headlong into your day, take a moment to sit with Jesus and lavish Him with love. In His eyes, this is a beautiful thing.