Daily Devotional
Do You Believe God Can Use You?
“A woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, ‘Why this waste? For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.’
But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, ‘Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.’”
Matthew 26:7-13
April 13, 2024
Ponder This
When you give Christ something, He’ll receive it. He doesn’t ask for what you don’t have; He asks for what you do have. God is not asking for what you cannot do; He’s asking for what you can do. He’s asking you to give what you do have. When you give it to Him, when it is touched by Christ, it can be transformed by Christ.
Jesus fed the multitude. Don’t insult God by saying He cannot use you. God specializes in using ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Think about Mary, who brought that sweet perfume, anointed the feet of Jesus, and bathed His feet with her tears. Jesus said of that woman, who did what she could, “Wherever this gospel is preached, what she’s done will be told of her around the world” (Matthew 26:13, author’s paraphrase). You see, the world is still filled with the perfume of a little woman who bathed the feet of Jesus. She did what she could. What do you need to surrender to Jesus? He can use what little you have in a powerful way. Just take that first step to bring it to Him.
- What does it look like to give something to God? How have you done that before?
- Is it easy or difficult for you to understand when and how God is using you? How so?
Practice This
Consider one thing you could give to God. Pray and surrender that to Him today.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
