When I was a kid my hometown had a minor league baseball team. Making it to the majors from this league was virtually impossible, so very few famous players passed through. One day, I was invited to a game by a friend. For whatever reason, I chose not to go. Imagine my shock the next day when he came over and told me about his experience. By sheer fluke, the opposing team had a player on it that had once played for my favorite team, the Chicago Cubs. He was playing in this small independent league while trying to secure a better major league contract. He ended up breaking his bat during a plate appearance, and a large piece fell into the seat I would have been sitting in! My friend collected the piece and got it signed by this player, which made me unbelievably jealous. I could have gotten a piece of a game-used bat by a Chicago Cub, but I had missed out on the opportunity.
How many opportunities to be blessed by God do we miss out on because we are so busy chasing after other things in our lives? How often do we miss the chance to listen to Him, to be challenged by Him, to serve Him, and/or simply be amazed by Him? I would wager that the answer to all of us is: a lot! Jesus’ disciples had the amazing privilege of following Jesus in the flesh for three years. They got to hear every teaching and witness every miracle. Yet, they often missed the point. Here is a prime example.
Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the Leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” Matthew 26:6-13
Jesus was down to his final hours on earth, and the disciples were bickering over the oil used to wash His feet. Instead of soaking in every ounce of his teaching and presence, they argued. As we head towards Easter this week, are we too missing opportunities to be blessed by God? Are we letting different things in our lives get in the way of praying to Him, of being still in His presence, of hearing His Word, or answering His call? Don’t miss God this week. Make space to be blessed by His amazing power and grace.
