Inspired by The Drop Box

 Recently I went to see the movie “The Drop Box”. An incredible documentary of a Pastor and his wife who are pouring out the love of God in ways that are both inspiring and convicting.  I came away with mixed emotions. One was a great thankfulness for this precious couple, their humble hearts and their tremendous example. The other was a conviction to live a life of greater surrender. This couple had clearly surrendered all to Jesus and His all-consuming love.

Over the years I’ve had the privilege to hear about and see wonderful-amazing good works that God’s people are involved with all over the world. Usually I get stirred-up and feel like I too want to be involved with every “good work” I see but know that it is physically impossible. In watching a movie like this it can be easy to feel or think that “I am not doing enough” and begin to look for more “to do”. Or we can compare ourselves and feel as if what we are doing doesn’t measure up.  At times this can lead to discouragement and even a sense of self–loathing either of which is not intended by the Lord.  

There is one particular verse that has done much to temper me again and again by God’s Spirit found in Mark 14:8. It simply says: “She has done what she could”.  Jesus is speaking about Mary of Bethany who had just taken an alabaster jar of very expensive spikenard and anointed his head and feet. The concentrated fragrance filled the house with its aroma. (John 12:3) She was misunderstood and criticized by the others but Jesus says “she has done a good work for Me” Mark 14:6. It is important for me to remember that the Lord has a specific work for each of us and He never compares. He delights in our doing what we can, where we are with what has been entrusted to us. When we try to spread the fragrance too far and wide it loses its strong aroma and the effect gets diminished. This South Korean Pastor and his wife have given themselves entirely to a work that was literally right at their front door. They decided to do what they could with what they had and the concentrated fragrance of Christ is making an eternal impact both near and far.

I believe a movie like this should inspire us not condemn us. We should be inspired like Mary of Bethany to take an accounting of what we have and how we can pour out in the name of Christ with a narrowed concentration for the greatest impact. Remember God calls us to be generous with what we have, not feel guilty about what we don’t have or cannot do. Our aim should not be “to do more” but to hear Him say “she has done what she could”, “she has done a good work for me”. When we live this way we can be thankfully inspired by what others are doing and what God is doing through us!

“Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” Mark 14:9



---