Matthew 26:10-11

“But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, ‘Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always.’ ”

We must not confuse priorities. There is Jesus and there are the works for Jesus. Both are not the same. Jesus and the ministry for Jesus are not the same, and we must never confuse them. Yes, there is the vital need to do ministry in the name of the Lord, but ministry in the name of the Lord and ministry to Jesus is not the same. There are things that Jesus Himself desires, which can be different from Jesus’ desires for His world. Jesus has a need, and we need to place His personal needs above the needs for ministry. Some of Jesus’ personal needs are worship and fellowship with His people.

Jesus said of the woman, “She has done a good work for me.” The woman had poured precious oil on Jesus, and He received this as a ministry to Him. Worshipping Jesus and ministry to Jesus is more important than serving in Jesus name. Let’s help the poor and bless the people in the name of the Lord, but more important than all these must be the direct and costly ministry of worshipping Jesus. And it takes spiritual discernment to know what Jesus’ needs are in each situation.

“Jesus, forgive me because most of my current ministries are not to You but to others in Your name. Today, I make the decision to slow down on the external ministries, so that I can meet Your personal needs. Grant me the spirit to discern and respond to Your needs. Amen.”