I was recently rereading a book chapter that God used to get me through a very tough semester when I was a freshman in college. In the last chapter of The Normal Christian Life, Watchman Nee reflects on the story in the Gospels (only a few days before Jesus dies on the cross) when Mary comes to a dinner uninvited, breaks an alabaster jar of ointment—worth a staggering amount—and anoints Jesus with the jar’s entire contents (Mark 14:3–9). Even the disciples were indignant and cried out, “Why this waste!” Judas’s voice may have been the loudest among the disciples (John 12:4–6), but he was not alone (Matt 26:8–9). Nee remarks, “Human reasoning said this was really too much; it was giving the Lord more than His due.”
I can remember feeling the weight of the sacrifices I was making in those early college days—living away from family and childhood friends, long hours studying, difficult assignments, lost sleep, the great expense of tuition and books—and wondering, “Are my hopes and dreams really worth all this?”
Watchman Nee helped me see what Mary saw only days before Jesus died—and what so many others were blind to. Nee helped me see the incredible worth of Jesus! “Waste means that you give something too much for something too little. If someone is receiving more than he is considered to be worth, then that is waste.” But under this definition, it is impossible to waste anything on Jesus! Nay, the more something is worth—whether it be a possession, a relationship, our future, or whatever—the more obvious it should become to us that Jesus is the only one worthy of it. The only way not to waste whatever we have is to pour it out on Jesus!
We would love for you to join with us in praying for students at Stanford—Christian and non-Christians alike—that each one of them would see Jesus for his true worth and would pour out all their worth on him as Mary did!
To that end, would you pray with us for Stanford’s students:
- That they would be strengthened as they finish their Winter quarter exams.
- That they would be refreshed and safe as they enjoy their Spring break this last week of March.
- And that they would encounter the glory of God in the face of Christ throughout this next quarter’s rigors.
And would you pray for the Christians on Stanford’s campus:
- That we would spur one another on to love and good works.
- And that God would give us more of himself, with the result that we will all the more eagerly pour out our lives for the sake of Jesus and for the good of others!
We are grateful for your partnership in the gospel at Stanford through prayer!
Grace and peace in Jesus,
Justin Woyak
Ministry Fellow
Christian Union Caritas
2431 Park Blvd
Palo Alto, CA 94306
Please note: if you would like to receive regular updates on how to pray for Christian Union's work, please email prayer@christianunion.org.
