Go For Broke

Happy Sunday!
Pastor La'tresa Jester from Gideon Baptist Church in Tucson, Arizona was our guest speaker today as we celebrated our Annual Women's Day. She preached "Going For Broke". She used St. John 12:1-8 as her reference scriptures.

It's amazing how eight scriptures can be so full of activity and revelation. The Apostle John is writing. He let's us know that this all happened six days before the Passover. You remember that the Passover is the Jewish celebration commemorating the deliverance of the Jews from Egypt. It's all in Exodus 12, Pharaoh refused to let the slaves go. Because of the hardness of his heart, the final plague would be the death of the firstborn. The Jews were instructed to kill a healthy male lamb, smear the blood of the lamb on the doorposts and lintel of their houses. When the Death Angel came by that night to kill the first born, he would "Passover" the homes that were marked by the blood. Jewish people still pause to celebrate and remember that night. We Christians believe that Jesus Christ is our Passover Lamb. He shed his blood, and that blood covers and protects us. Even John the Baptist recognized that Jesus was the Lamb. John 1:29 says, "Look! This man is more than He seems! He is the Lamb sent from God, the sacrifice to erase the sins of the world!" (Voice Translation)

John also lets us know that this all happened in Bethany at the home of Lazarus and his two sisters. Lazarus was a good friend of Jesus. In John chapter 11, we read the story of how Lazarus died. When he was sick, Jesus waited several days before he came to see about him. When he arrived Lazarus was dead, but Jesus went to the tomb and called him forth.

John continues to write. Lazarus is at the table with Jesus, Martha is serving the meal, and "Mary came in with a jar of very expensive aromatic oils, anointed and massaged Jesus’ feet, and then wiped them with her hair. The fragrance of the oils filled the house." WOW! Six days before Passover, in the home of a man who had been resurrected, a woman anointed the feet of Jesus with a very expensive jar of ointment. Think about this. Feet in the Bible represent foundations, and assignments. In this story, it's six days before Jesus is to fulfill his ultimate assignment on earth. His death on the cross became the foundation for our lives and our salvation. Mary worshipped Jesus with all she had, and even Judas recognized it was an extravagant gift, he remarked, "How could she pour out this vast amount of fine oil? Why didn’t she sell it? It is worth nearly a year’s wages; the money could have been given to the poor." (Voice Translation) Judas wasn't concerned about the poor! He wanted more money to steal! Read it for yourself. Verse 6 says, "This had nothing to do with Judas’s desire to help the poor. The truth is he served as the treasurer, and he helped himself to the money from the common pot at every opportunity." Judas was a thief and his only desire was to get more money. He had been stealing from the "bag" all along.
What does this have to do with me? So glad you asked. Everyone of us has an assignment. We have all been created for a purpose. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Eternal, “plans for peace, not evil, to give you a future and hope—never forget that." (Voice Translation) I know, I know...at times it can be hard to believe that there is any rhyme or reason to life. But there is a plan. Ask God what his plan is for your life. Surrender to his plan for your life and give it your all. Go for broke!

Do you remember the movie, "It's a Wonderful Life" starring Jimmy Stewart? The main character George Bailey was struggling financially and emotionally. He wishes he had never been born and decides to end his life. His guardian angel appears and shows him what his family and community would be without him. Just like George, you may not see the impact your life is having on the world. You may think no one cares, and no one knows. Snap out of it! This world needs you! Ray Boltz sang a song called "Thank You". You should Google it and listen. He talks about how ordinary people and ordinary everyday things that we do impact the lives and destinies of others. Like the song infers, we may never know until we get to Heaven what a great blessing we have been in the lives of others. But how wonderful it will be to know that we obeyed God and lives were changed.

One by one they came
Far as the eye could see
Each life somehow touched
By your generosity.

Little things that you had done
Sacrifices made.
Unnoticed on the earth
In heaven now proclaimed.

Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave.

Let's Go for Broke this week! Give it our all!

Love and prayers, Cynthia