Date: June 8, 2009 1:40 AM
Topic: +DEV+ Gratitude
Gratitude
Scripture Focus: John 12:1-18
“Leave her alone‚” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.” (Mark 14:6).
Someone passes judgment, “Charles sure spends a lot of money on himself. The cost of his new car alone could feed many starving children.”
Our conversations are not much different from the disciples‚ when they witnessed Mary anointing Jesus six days before His last Passover feast.
According to Matthew, the disciples objected to what they thought was a gigantic waste of the perfume she used to anoint Jesus‚ feet. It was worth a whole year’s wage for a common laborer!
But Jesus rebuked His disciples and expressed gratitude for Mary’s actions. She loved Him much and wanted to demonstrate her love in a tangible way, giving Him the best she had. He also commended her because she recognized He would die, and she was anointing Him for burial ahead of time. Even the disciples were not as discerning.
Criticism seems to come naturally and much more easily than gratitude does. Will you work on building bridges with gratitude instead of erecting walls with criticism?
Insight: To whom can you express gratitude? How will you do it?
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