THE COST
By: Whitney Northern & Elle Buell
And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
Luke 7:36-38 KJV
Whitney: Although she faced the scrutiny of everyone in the room, Mary pressed through the crowd to get to Jesus so she could, literally and figuratively, pour out her love for Him. She wept at his feet and washed them with her tears. She then used her hair to dry them, and finally she poured the oil from her box onto the feet of Jesus. In using this precious oil, and oil that had likely taken a long time to be able to afford, she shows us that praise has value. Praise costs us something...
Elle: When the conversation of worship comes up, people often comment on how "outward" my expressions of worship are. My quick response is always, "But you don't know the cost of my praise!" What I'm saying is that you weren't there on my bathroom floor when I considered and attempted suicide as a teenager. It wasn't your hand that protected my life and saved me from that moment... That was My God. You weren't with me when my poor decisions left me trapped in an abusive relationship, thousands of miles from my family, but God was with me and He provided escape from that situation when I cried out to Him. These are the moments that built a closeness and intimacy in my relationship with God that cause me to worship Him with an inexplicable desperation. He saved my life! He rescued me! He gave me hope and a future! I'm sure Whitney can echo these thoughts...
Whitney: Yes! Praise has carried me through much heartbreak. It’s what brought me through three miscarriages. It’s what brought me through burying my son. Worship is WARship and praise is victory. There is victory when we choose to praise, even in hardships. Especially in hardships.
Elle: My praise bubbles up within me because I am often reminded of these hard experiences that brought me to His feet. Likewise, we don't know what Mary must've gone through to cause her to worship Christ with such extravagance. When we truly consider the ways God has blessed us, a boldness wells up inside of us and suddenly it doesn't matter who is watching, who is listening, who is nearby; we are overcome by the need to just pour ourselves out at His feet. I would challenge you to spend time today reflecting on how God has saved you, forgiven you, loved you, blessed you, and rescued you. If you're anything like me, you won't be able to contain that praise. Share with someone today the testimony of what God has done in your life, or what I call “the cost of your praise”.
And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
Luke 7:36-38 KJV
Whitney: Although she faced the scrutiny of everyone in the room, Mary pressed through the crowd to get to Jesus so she could, literally and figuratively, pour out her love for Him. She wept at his feet and washed them with her tears. She then used her hair to dry them, and finally she poured the oil from her box onto the feet of Jesus. In using this precious oil, and oil that had likely taken a long time to be able to afford, she shows us that praise has value. Praise costs us something...
Elle: When the conversation of worship comes up, people often comment on how "outward" my expressions of worship are. My quick response is always, "But you don't know the cost of my praise!" What I'm saying is that you weren't there on my bathroom floor when I considered and attempted suicide as a teenager. It wasn't your hand that protected my life and saved me from that moment... That was My God. You weren't with me when my poor decisions left me trapped in an abusive relationship, thousands of miles from my family, but God was with me and He provided escape from that situation when I cried out to Him. These are the moments that built a closeness and intimacy in my relationship with God that cause me to worship Him with an inexplicable desperation. He saved my life! He rescued me! He gave me hope and a future! I'm sure Whitney can echo these thoughts...
Whitney: Yes! Praise has carried me through much heartbreak. It’s what brought me through three miscarriages. It’s what brought me through burying my son. Worship is WARship and praise is victory. There is victory when we choose to praise, even in hardships. Especially in hardships.
Elle: My praise bubbles up within me because I am often reminded of these hard experiences that brought me to His feet. Likewise, we don't know what Mary must've gone through to cause her to worship Christ with such extravagance. When we truly consider the ways God has blessed us, a boldness wells up inside of us and suddenly it doesn't matter who is watching, who is listening, who is nearby; we are overcome by the need to just pour ourselves out at His feet. I would challenge you to spend time today reflecting on how God has saved you, forgiven you, loved you, blessed you, and rescued you. If you're anything like me, you won't be able to contain that praise. Share with someone today the testimony of what God has done in your life, or what I call “the cost of your praise”.