Luke 10:42
"But few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
For a long time, I was like Martha (see Luke 10 for the full story). My focus was on everything except being at the feet of Jesus. However, Mary knew that being at the feet of Jesus was where she needed to be. It didn’t matter what needed to be done, what others expected of her, or what her sister thought she was or wasn’t doing. What mattered was that deep in her heart, she knew she had to be with Jesus.
Today, I am like Mary.
Lately, I’ve been deeply moved by the story of Mary in Matthew 26:6, where Jesus is anointed at Bethany. Here are a few verses to set the scene (v. 6-13):
"While Jesus was in Bethany, in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. 'Why this waste?' they asked. 'This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.' Aware of this, Jesus said to them, 'Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.'"
For many years, I had the honor of serving in the house of the Lord—leading worship, overseeing ministries, and going on mission trips. I’ve been blessed to spread the gospel in countries like Uganda, Guatemala, and Haiti, among others. I am humbled that God, in His grace, chose to use someone as flawed as me for His glory in these spaces. As I write this, it’s important to note that I don’t take any of it for granted.
Questions began to arise when my husband and I got married, and I stepped down from ministry to embrace this new season of my life. It was a time when I was living like Martha but being pruned to live like Mary. When I rededicated my life to Christ, I knew one thing for sure: I wanted to pour out a true fragrance to Jesus. I wanted to do it without platforms, titles, or positions. I wanted to ensure that what was happening in my secret place overflowed with an oil pleasing to Jesus. Like Mary, I wanted to be at His feet—His feet—not the feet of leaders, pastors, friends, or family. The truth is, when you’re deep in ministry, it’s easy to forget who you need to be postured before.
“Won’t you miss leading worship, though?”
“What about mission trips?”
“So, what are you doing now?”
“Don’t you think you’re wasting your gifts?”
The questions came from a place of genuine love and belief that the Lord had used me and would continue to use me. But now, I look back and reflect on how the disciples also questioned Mary when she poured out her expensive perfume on Jesus' head. "Why this waste?" they asked. There were moments when I, too, was asked if I felt like my decision was a waste. I went from doing so much on a platform to sitting down in a new community where I didn’t know anyone. Yet, I was certain that through it all, God was going to move in my life in a different way. Oh boy, has He!
Before the verses in Matthew, there was a plot to arrest and crucify Jesus. I can imagine Jesus entering Simon the Leper's house with the disciples after having a difficult conversation with them: "As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified." The disciples were likely worried, frustrated, and anxious. Yet, Jesus reclined at the table—a posture of rest and trust.
Mary, confident in her decision to be at the feet of Jesus, seized the moment to give Him the best of what she had. She poured out her worship and her oil on His head. To others, it seemed outrageous. The disciples didn’t understand. But Mary knew there was no waste here. It was her worship—her true fragrance. Mary had seen what Jesus could do. She had sat at His feet and heard Him teach Martha a valuable lesson: Even though Martha thought Mary was being negligent, Jesus said otherwise: "Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
It will not be taken away from her.
Mary has chosen what is better.
Mary also witnessed Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead in John 11. She knew Jesus was worthy of her worship, even if it didn’t make sense to others.
In this season, I have chosen to know the heart of Jesus and let it transform every part of me. I am now happy and honored to be serving at church again, but my heart is focused on two things: 1) loving God and 2) loving His children. I don’t need a platform or titles. Though I wouldn’t turn them down if the Lord desires it, my main concern is that the oil I pour out from my alabaster jar is a fragrance that pleases Him. This means that what happens in my secret place must also be evident outside of it. If the Lord places me in specific roles, my prayer is that I remain like Mary—worshipping purely and truly, even if it seems outrageous to others.
I have felt God’s presence strongest in my secret place—just Him and me—where He has revealed the areas in my life that need His touch, where He has healed me, and where He has taught me what truly matters through His Word.
Mary had no idea that her offering was preparing Jesus for His ultimate sacrifice—dying on the cross for me and for you. She also didn’t know that her story would be told across the world, just as Jesus said it would. “Why this waste?” It’s clear now that nothing was wasted.
My prayer for you today is that your alabaster jar pours out oil that produces a true fragrance. Ask yourself, how does your secret place look? Are you relying on ministry to fill your cup? If you’re not a churchgoer, are you filling your own cup with work, school, or social activities to fill a void?
If so, tonight, go into your secret place and ask Jesus to make you whole again. “But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand” (Isaiah 64:8).
Fall in love with the secret place. Pour out your praise to Him, and know that whatever condition it may be in today—nothing is wasted.
