Extravagant – When Worship Becomes Lifestyle预览

A New Normal: Intention That Got His Attention

It’s easy to get the impression that what happened in Simon’s house was a random, spontaneous action from an “emotional” woman. In an act of social and cultural irrationality, she gate-crashed the party and acted impulsively. Or did she? Actually, the Bible makes it clear this could not be further from the truth. We read that,

“A woman … learned that Jesus was eating…” (v37). The word translated “learned” is epiginṓskō, meaning “upon knowing” or to “fully know.” The woman didn’t visit Simon’s house on the off-chance, she knew full well Jesus would be there.

To emphasize her intentionality we’re told that she, “…came there with an alabaster jar of perfume…” (v37). The dictionary defines being intentional as “to do on purpose, to be deliberate.”

The Lord I serve is profoundly intentional. What might look spontaneous are actions flowing out of His vision, passion and purpose. He begins with the end in mind, thus ensuring that everything He does is saturated with meaning and dripping with value. There are no afterthoughts with the Lord, only forethoughts. The Scriptures declare:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…” (Genesis 1:1)

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us…” (John 1:14)

“For God so loved the world that He gave His One and only Son…” (John 3:16)

“But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son…” (Galatians 4:4)

“For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world…” (Ephesians 1:4)

His intentionality is one of the greatest testaments to His love for us. His attention to detail should only assure us of the magnificence of His character and the depth of His loving-kindness, which the Bible declares, “endures forever.”

If a lifestyle of worship is left to the mercy of spontaneity, then what should be usual will become occasional. Feelings, emotions and experiences, whether good, bad or ugly, will drive our agenda, reducing our worship to unpremeditated expressions that create a spiritual high for us, but little else. An extravagant, worship-lifestyle, however, doesn’t need an excuse because it has found its cause. It’s not random, it flows out of revelation. It replaces the occasional with the intentional.

Finally, we see that, “[Jesus] turned toward the woman and said to Simon…” (v43). In other words, her intention got His attention!

If we become intentional, then extravagance will become our new normal!