Costly Worship

“A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.” (Luke 7:37 NIV)

This sinful woman took on great risk to worship. Have you ever considered her cost beyond the jar we’ve heard so much about? The sinful woman surely knew she’d endure dirty looks and ridicule – she’d likely endured as much her entire adult life, maybe by the very men who purchased her services. But more than ridicule, her approach of Jesus on the religious man’s property could have resulted in verbal abuse, beating, imprisonment and even death. She surely knew this: the ancient lines between holy and unholy were distinct and impassable.

Yet the sinful woman was compelled. She could not pass up an opportunity to fall at the Savior’s feet in worship. She was drawn to His presence like a moth to the flame. Her desire to be near God was greater than her instinct to save her own skin. She somehow knew her moment of uninhibited worship was worth everything she possessed: her jar of perfume (likely essential to her profession), her reputation, her very life. She poured her jar and herself out, and she found all she needed to go forward in Him.

I think about this woman and her tolerance for risk in worship and I’m a little undone. What do we risk, in America, to bow down before a holy God? What does it cost us? And still, we struggle to bring our all. We get to clasp the Savior’s feet for free and we value our proximity so cheaply.

“Praise the Lord, my soul; all inmost being praise His name.” (Psalm 103:1 NIV)

Forgive us, O God, for entering worship lightly. Forgive us for forgetting the price tag of unfettered access to Your throne room. You gave Your everything to pay the way for us to come near. May we give all in grateful response. Amen.