September 11, 2026
Friday, September 11
Perhaps you can remember a time when you did the equivalent of what Mary and the sinful woman did in the two stories we’ve read this week. Most likely, you didn’t pour out an expensive vial of perfume; but you gave Him something even more valuable. You wrote Him a blank check with your life. You pledged, “Wherever you lead me, I will go.” That was the hinge upon which your life has turned, the decision that has changed everything else since.
Then again, perhaps you haven’t made that choice yet. You believe Jesus died for your sins, and you’ve asked Him to be your Savior. But you are consciously holding back from a full commitment, a blank check. Fear stands in your way. You worry that if you offer Jesus everything, He’ll take away something you love. Or He’ll send you as a missionary to some horrible place, or worse, make you the pastor of a Baptist church (the horror!). But listen to this: In Matthew 13:44, Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” In Christ’s analogy, the man sells everything he has…his house, his livestock, even his clothing. He is left with nothing. But he does it with joy! Why? Because he knows what he gets in return will be worth infinitely more than anything He gave up.
When I was a senior in High School, my dad one day told me that a local credit union had repossessed a silver Camaro and was taking bids on it. I had a few thousand dollars saved up from the 4H animals I had raised and sold, so I bid it all, thinking I would never get it. To my amazement, I won! That car was incredible. I was not a “cool” guy in any sense, but that was a cool car. When I would glide past girls on the sidewalk, I could see their eyes following me. That was new!
Then, a little over a year later, I met Carrie. She lived an hour away from the UH campus. Every weekend, I made that drive three times, including waking up very early on Sunday mornings so I could attend Sunday School with her. After a few years, that once-beautiful car was ready for the scrap yard. All those miles on the infernal Houston freeways had absolutely killed it. I gave up all I had to get that car, and then gave THAT up to be with her. But I did it all joyfully, and would gladly do it again.
When you receive the kind of forgiveness Jesus offers, you naturally want to know more about this wonderful Savior. Then you discover how beautiful, how amazing, how awesome He is, and what kind of joy it brings you to give Him everything, and it doesn’t feel like a sacrifice anymore. You don’t worry about what He might demand of you. Carrie never asked me to come see her every weekend night. I didn’t need to be asked; I was doing what brought me joy. The same is true when we offer ourselves fully to Him. What seems like sacrifice turns out to bring us the greatest joy we’ve ever experienced.
“Lord, if I am holding back anything from you, please show me what it is. Give me the faith to believe that whatever I offer to you will be well worth it. Because you are good, Jesus, and it’s in your name I pray, amen.”
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Conroe
More from Pastor Jeff at his website: jeffbergerwriting.com
