Daily Devotional – 7/31/17 “What are you doing with the oil?”

Yesterday I preached, like I’ve done many times before but it was different. My subject was “the cost of the oil,” and it was heavy but healing, emotional but enlightening and it was rough but renewing. It was one of those sermons that God didn’t give me until Saturday night and although I was still uneasy about it Sunday morning; the oil of God was set ablaze. And guess what, no one recorded it because I believe it was simply for those in attendance. I cannot explain it but somebody else besides me needed to understand that carrying the oil of God’s anointing can get heavy, it can cause you some pain and it can cost you a lot yet, there is still reward. I don’t know what God has in store for me neither do I know what He has for all of you (those) connected to me but God simply told me to tell you the oil comes at a cost. What do I mean? It will cost you some friendships, some relationships, some toiling, some nights of lying on your face, some days of crying instead of smiling, some extra attacks by the enemy and some times of wanting to give it all up. There is a cost. Oh but with the cost also come rewards because Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

This is why you have to be willing to pay the cost. Please understand, this isn’t just for those of us who have been called as messengers of God but it is for all of God’s children. We all have the oil, the only difference is that some of us who have been charged with pouring the oil (Samuel anoints Saul), some have been charged with wiping the oil (Mary wiped the feet of Jesus), some have been charged with the laying of the oil (James 5:14, “any among you sick…”) and some have to carry the oil (Exodus 27:20). What are you doing with the oil? I don’t know about you but daily, I feel like Isaiah and I say like Isaiah 61:1-3, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.” What are you doing with the oil? Are you doing your part or is your cup empty? Is your light shining or is your oil depleted? Are your hands working or is your oil dry? What, ma’am; sir, are you doing with the oil?