“Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”

‭‭John‬ ‭12:3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/59/jhn.12.3.esv

Mary did an act of love and the scent of it filled the room. It was a beautiful thing she did unto the Lord and others got to enjoy the after effects. What we choose to do for the Lord has effects too. The question is will others enjoy it as well?

Some serve the Lord and have a bitter attitude while others have great joy and humility. When we do things out of love for the Lord we leave love in our wake. Mary’s act of love toward Jesus was done with humility and no desire to be a show. How often have we seen people make a great display of their “acts of love”?

Mary exhibits how when we love the Lord and lavish that love on Him, not only is the gift well received by Him but love is left in our wake. Isn’t this what the psalmist spoke of when he said “surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life” in Psalm 23:6? The writer of the Psalm realized that he needed to leave a path or legacy of love, goodness and mercy behind him because of all the blessings of God. Mary felt the same way. Her display of love and the scent of it filled the room and it awakened everyone there.

What are you leaving in your wake?

What atmosphere is created by you and remains after you leave an area?

In what way are you serving the Lord: humbly or for show?