A Creative Offering

Today's devotional is from Life is a Goldmine: Can You Dig It?

"Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume" - John 12:3.

No place in the Old Testament does it describe any kind of offering similar to what Mary did for Jesus. While she was anointing Him for his impending death, she was applying her creativity to come up with this unique scenario that obviously shocked the men who were present that day. Yet Jesus endorsed what Mary did, commending her for her creativity and her lavish expression of love and devotion.

How creative are you in your offerings to God? Do you give your gifts, time, and talent in such a way that it takes God's breath away and fills the room with a sweet aroma like Mary did? How lavish are you in your devotion to God and how do you express it as an expression of your individual creativity?

Lord, I love You, but I admit I have been a bit traditional and stale in my expressions of love for You, limiting them to some words in church or quick prayers throughout the day. Today, I'm going to do something different, like bake you a cake and give it to the poor or write You a poem or compose a song—just for You. I want to be like Mary and do something out of the ordinary for You as an expression of my appreciation, gratitude, and devotion.