Most of us are good actors, but it’s difficult to fake a reaction. When the woman broke the alabaster jar, the reaction of the disciples was very revealing. ‘Why this waste?’ They thought that by pouring it at Jesus’ feet, she was throwing her perfume down the drain. They called it a waste, but He called it ‘a beautiful thing.’ Then He went on to say, ‘Wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her’ (v. 9 NIV). Can you imagine what those few words did for her self-image? It had probably been years since she’d heard a kind word. You could read this into what Jesus said: ‘You may not believe in yourself, but I believe in you.’ No one can spot potential like Jesus. That’s because He’s the One who gave it to us in the first place. And, that’s why God will never give up on you. It’s not in His nature (see Philippians 1:6). His ‘goodness and mercy will follow [you] all the days of [your] life’ (Ps 23:6). All you have to do is turn around, and – surprise – they’re behind you. This woman was desperate enough to crash the party, and Jesus responds to desperate people. How desperate are you? Desperate enough to make a move, make a change? Desperate enough to pray through the night? Read through the Bible? Reconcile the conflict? Plead with a friend who’s a lost cause? Give your life savings to a kingdom cause? The path of least resistance won’t get you to where you need to be. But if you go out of your way for God, God will go out of His way for you.

What now?

Check your desperation. When was the last time you went all-out for God in some way?