Week 10 | Day 2 HONORING THE KING Matthew 26:6-17 | Mark 12:41-43; 14:1-11 | Luke 21:1-4

In these passages, Jesus is anointed in Bethany by a woman who poured expensive perfume on Him, an act criticized by others as wasteful. Yet Jesus defended her, declaring that she had done a beautiful thing by preparing Him for burial and that her sacrificial act would be remembered wherever the gospel was preached. In contrast, Mark 12:41–43 and Luke 21:1–4 record Jesus observing people giving offerings at the temple, where a poor widow quietly gave two small coins—everything she had. Though unnoticed by most, Jesus highlighted her gift as greater than all the others because she gave out of her poverty, not her surplus.

Together, these moments revealed that God measures devotion not by size, visibility, or efficiency, but by the heart behind the gift. Both the woman with the alabaster jar and the widow embody wholehearted surrender—one through costly worship, the other through quiet faith. These events expose the difference between calculating generosity and sacrificial obedience, reminding us that true worship always flows from trust, love, and a willingness to give God our best, even when it seems impractical or unseen to others.

APPLICATION

1. Give God Your Best, never What’s Left Over

True worship prioritizes God above comfort, convenience, and calculation. He is the true object of your affection.

2. Measure Generosity by Sacrifice, not Amount

What matters to God is what giving costs you, not how it compares to others.

3. Don’t Allow Criticism to Silence Your Obedience

Faithful acts often invite misunderstanding, but Jesus honors our obedience over man’s approval. Not everyone will understand what you are doing and often people criticize what they don’t understand.

4. Worship is Preparation, not Performance

Like the anointing, our devotion readies our hearts for what God is doing next. It also creates a spiritual aroma that fills the house for all to experience.

5. Faithfulness often Happens Quietly

God sees what others overlook and rewards what is done in secret. While worship might appear private, more often than not, it has a public impact and effect. This is because true worship is contagious.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, You see beyond appearances and weigh the intentions of the heart. Teach me to worship You with courage, generosity, and trust—holding nothing back and fearing no criticism. May my life reflect wholehearted devotion, whether in public moments or quiet sacrifices. Help me give not out of surplus, but out of love, faith, and gratitude for all You have done. Amen.