Zach (Host of Jesus Podcast) (25:46)
Ahava's story really is no different from ours. Though many of us consider ourselves far better off than she is, the reality is we're all broken apart from Jesus. We all have experienced the agony of the consequences of poor choices or circumstances that we've been thrust into against our will. But what the story of this prostitute shows us is that the best way to walk through our brokenness is, is to be at the feet of Jesus. Worship aligns our hearts with God's rest and resets our priorities and reminds us of his goodness. And really, today's story was a story of worship. As we follow along the actions of Ahava, we're given an amazing picture of what genuine and true and humble worship looks like. First, we're reminded that worship helps us to leave our shame behind us. It was likely hard enough for this prostitute to show her face in public during the day, but this woman was so determined to worship at the feet of Jesus that she willingly stepped into the dinner party of a Pharisee. She's in a room filled with the religious elite. That's the last place a prostitute worried of judgment wants to find herself in, let alone what anyone would have expected. But she wouldn't let her shame hinder her from coming before the Lord. She knew that the piercing glares and the judgment that would be thrown at her was worth enduring if it meant she got to be in front of Jesus. Drawing near to Jesus in worship allows us to leave our fear and shame behind us as we lay our lives before Jesus. He lifts us up out of shame and into a place of love and prominence. If you're feeling any ounce of brokenness, or maybe you're just so broken it feels like you can never be put back together. Turn your attention to Jesus. Look at the Gospel and how he broke himself for you. That he, the God of the universe, saw you as so precious, so precious in his sight, that he would hang on the cross for you. That should humble you, but it should also give you confidence in just how seriously God wants to be with you. When you understand just how precious you are to God and how earnestly he wants to be with you, man, you're not going to feel any shame coming to him. You're not going to feel judgment as you crawl to him and Come to him for worship. God wants to lift that burden from your shoulders. The burden of shame, the burden of sin, the burden of your past and despair. We also learn another necessary truth in our story today, and that's that worship requires sacrifice. As every woman in this city had, the prostitute held in her possession a small alabaster flask of expensive ointment. This perfume wasn't meant for cosmetics. In dire circumstances, this cherished item was a means of safety and security for one down on their luck or who could sell it as a secure means to live in the best of circumstances, it would be used as a promise of one's love to their husband, a gift for their wedding. And in the worst circumstances, it would be sold when all other options have been exhausted. For Ahava, the small container meant something even greater. It was the means to a new beginning in life. She used this precious oil to anoint Jesus as an act of worship. Today, the idea of worship is often linked to music and singing songs. While this is a form of worship, certainly there's much more to it than that. At its core, worship is an overflow of our adoration for God, and it's an ascribing of worth. The word itself comes from an Old English word, worth ship. To declare something is of worth. The true worship of God requires sacrifice, declaring that God is worth giving up anything for. For Ahava, it was worth giving up her most prized possession. Whether it's through financial giving, using our talents and gifts to serve others, or spending time praising him and his greatness, there are countless ways that we can worship God through sacrifice. The author of Hebrews tells us, through Jesus. Therefore, let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. Though worship may be a sacrifice, we will never be at a loss because of it. To give up the world but gain Jesus is the best trade off we could ever imagine. We learn another lesson in this story. When we worship, we have to come to him with the right heart first and foremost. This means knowing that worship isn't a means by which we gain or earn God's approval, but rather is made possible through God approving of us. We don't lift our voices and raise our hands during worship to get God's attention or to get him to smile at us. But like a child looking up into the eyes of their loving father, we reach up to God, who gazes upon us with radical love. Genuine worship, in spirit and in truth, is a blessing to God and pleases Him. But understand that before any act of worship on our end, God has already poured out the fullness of his love towards you. He has already pleasing you because you've declared your faith in Jesus. Worship is not the initiation of our relationship with God. It's the extension of that relationship with Him. When you worship, allow it to flow from a place of experiencing God's love, not yearning for it. Let your heart be filled to overflowing with his affection for you. And then reciprocate that love by giving worship to Him. There's another lesson here. Jesus encounter with the outcast prostitute teaches us one more insight on the nature of our worship. Worship is a response to God's truth. The prostitute's decision to worship Jesus wasn't a random idea inspired out of thin air. In our story today, we learn that Ahava had previously heard the Lord teach. And the bold claim that he came to call sinners to repentance rang and resounded in her heart. The words of Jesus drove out her fear. The words of Jesus shattered her shame. The words of Jesus mended her broken heart. As she reflected on the truth that Jesus shared, a seed was planted in her heart. It was the word of the Lord that deeply moved her soul. While many people worship in ignorance, genuine and spiritual worship is grounded in truth. It's grounded in what we know to be true about God. That means the more we know about God, the more and the more we ingest his truth, the deeper reservoir of worship we have to offer Him. My love for my wife increases as I continue to peel back the layers of her character and who she is. There are some. Even after years of marriage, there are new things I get to discover about her. And as I learn more about her, I fall deeper and deeper in love with her. You see, the more truth we learn about God, the more we learn about his character, the deeper reservoir of love we have, and the more we are effectively able to worship Him. Just like the more you know about your spouse, the greater capacity you have to serve them and love them well, the same is true about us and our God. The more we know about him, the more we're able to sacrifice for him, love him, serve him, and ultimately worship Him. While many people worship as an act of religion, Paul reminds us in Acts 17:22 that worship ought never to be out of this blind and ignorant faith. He says this when he's speaking to the people of Athens. He says this. I see in every way that you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription to the unknown God. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship. And this is what I am going to proclaim to you. You see, Paul makes note that people are very religious. That is to say, they have invested a lot in their spiritual practices. However, he reveals that their worship has fallen short because they're ignorant of the very person they're worshiping. It is here that Paul began to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, laying out the foundation of understanding of who God is and why God loves them so much. Know that God loves you. He sees you and he wants to be known by you. And as you know him and as you feel known by him, it creates this beautiful relationship in which you get to offer genuine and loving worship. Thanks again for joining us for the Jesus Podcast. You already know what to do. Leave a review rate and share it with a friend. And if you're looking for more resources.
