Celebrate Your Forgiveness

# 685 Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 14:4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, "Why was this fragrant oil wasted?
5 "For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they criticized her sharply.

The King James version says, “and there were some that had indignation within themselves.” Have you ever had indignation within yourself? You observe someone else's behavior and your first thought is “Well I never!” It happens all the time! It doesn't take much in this world to get our “self-righteousness” aroused. How many times have you seen extravagant spending and thought “Oh what a waste!.”

Well, here, some of the disciples were just churning on the inside. Why pour this expensive perfume on Jesus when the money spent on Him could've been given to the poor? But wait a minute.

Do you know that there was provision in the Old Testament for extravagant spending? It was found in what is called the second tithe. The first tithe went to support the church, but this second tithe was a little different, and you can read about it in Dt 14:22-29.

This second 10% was divided like this, one third went to the poor and 2/3 went to feasting before the Lord! Extravagant celebrations of His blessings. I wonder what that would look like today. 10% of your income to your church, then 1/3 of the next 10% to the poor, and then 2/3 of the second 10% for celebrating the goodness of God! Nice concept!

And what a great way to celebrate His forgiveness!

Father, You loved us extravagantly, let us learn to love extravagantly in return.